Photo copyright Bonhams.com

 

A beadwork basket, English, mid 17th Century

Item page at Bonhams.com

Of tray form, with a shaped handle to each side, the curved sides with a lion, a stag, a lamb and a parrot, leaves, flowers and a peapod, with a vase and berries to each corner, the trellis designed basket base with the King and Queen, each having a glass head and hands, an attendant holding the Queen’s train, and a turreted castle, clouds and the sun,
56cm wide x 44.5cm deep x 12.5cm high (22in wide x 17.5in deep x 5in high).

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Photo copyright Bonhams.com

 

A mid 17th century beadwork basket

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Photo copyright Bonhams.com

Item page at bonhams.com

Charles II beadwork basket, circa 1660 and later

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Photo from The-salesroom.com

A RARE BEADWORK BASKET, ENGLISH, 1664, LARGE SQUARE TRAY, WITH TREFOIL HANDLE

Item page at The-Salesroom.com

Beadwork basket. A rare beadwork basket, English, 1664, large square tray, with trefoil handle to each side, wrapped around with small coloured glass beads on wire (ribbon beneath sometime renewed, and beads washed and re-wired), embellished with later narrow blue ribbon bows, base lined with beaded panel depicting King Ahasuerus receiving Esther, the latter with attendant holding her train, Mordecai beside them, Haman hanging from a gibbet, the citadel of Shushan (Susa), and numerous other symbolic images of flora and fauna, with the initials ‘E.W.’ and the date 1664, beadwork sometime lifted from original backing and carefully relaid onto a new ground of linen-backed cream silk using adhesive and thread, generally a little dusty and some small losses, linen faces of the three main figures lacking their stitched features, size of panel 36.5 x 36cm (14.25 x 14ins), overall size 53 x 52cm (21 x 20.5ins) Provenance: Purchased over twenty years ago by the current owner from an auction of items which came from a major country house in the northwest of England, where it had almost certainly resided since its creation. Baskets such as these are very rare, there being only a relatively small number in existence. It is probable that the conservation work carried out on this piece was executed sometime in the first quarter of the 20th century. The purpose of such trays is not known; it has been suggested that they were made as layette baskets when preparing for the birth of a baby, or for placing gloves or rosemary in at a wedding. However, they may have been intended not as receptacles, but as simply commemorative pieces for a birth or betrothal, or just as decorative table centrepieces. As with silk embroidery, beadwork was a popular pastime for ladies in wealthy households in the seventeenth century, and young girls were instructed in the art of beadwork in the same way that they were taught other forms of embroidery. Similarities between the form of the basket frame in known examples suggest that they could be purchased ready-made for beadwork to be applied. The seventeenth century was a golden age in British embroidery, and large quantities of glass beads were imported from Venice and Amsterdam by English merchants between the 1630s and 1680s. All the examples of beadwork baskets which we have traced appear to date from the 1660s and 1670s. One of the most popular subjects for all types of embroidered objects was the Biblical story of Esther and King Ahasuerus, taken from the seventh chapter of Esther. The imagery of the tale, as well as that of the also oft-used story of King Solomon, served as a timely reminder, at the time of the Restoration of Charles II, of the sovereignty and greatness of the King, his graciousness in receiving supplicating subjects, and the dangerous consequences of not honouring the monarchy. It may be that the display of such a large piece of embroidery in a prominent place in a gentleman’s dwelling helped prove the household’s allegiance and devotion to the King. (1)

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Photograph copyright © The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.

Textiles/Basket. Glass beads threaded on wire attached to a wire frame, circa 1680. English.

• Accession Number: T.162-1946 Item link

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A CHARLES II BEADWORK LAYETTE BASKET
CIRCA 1660

Item auction page at Christie’s

Depicting a pair of figures with spot motifs of plants animals and insects, the borders with further figures and flowering plants, some damage to the sides
13 in. (33 cm.) wide

Previously sold Christie’s South Kensington, Costume and textiles, 14 December 2006, lot 3260.
A similar basket dated 1659, is in the Victoria Albert Museum, No. T.69-1936

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Charles II era basket, 1659

Link to Sotheby’s listing

Beadwork baskets were special creations, as they were not for any practical purpose, and are often decorated with celebratory imagery. They were often created to mimic the forms of silver christening baskets. This example could be commemorating a wedding, as fruit and foliage are often suggestive of fecundity. Beads began to be imported from Venice and Amsterdam around 1630, and they were instantly popular since they were interpreted as symbols of the exotic.

A basket with a similar composition and also worked in beads and depicting Charles II and Catherine of Braganza in the center is in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (39.13.1).

Overall in excellent condition. Decoration to faces is now lacking due to loss of silk thread. Some beads are lacking, minor restorations. Silk lining restored and the beadwork base replaced.

Height 8 1/4 in. by Width 13 1/2 in. by Length 22 in.

Signed MARY BLOMFIELD/ ANNO 1659, reverse with a label printed International Art Treasures Exhibition Assembly Rooms Bath 1973 Exhibit No. 158.

Provenance: Christie’s, South Kensington, July 14, 1992, sale 4716, lot 162.

Exhibited : International Art Treasures Exhibition, Bath, 1973

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Charles II era basket, 1660

Link to Sotheby’s listing

Mounted on wooden boards, the slanted sides worked in brightly coloured beads depicting a genteel couple with silk faces and hands flanking a manor house with mica windows; the sides with female allegories of the senses with silk faces and hands, flanked by a camel, leopard, stag and unicorn and flowers and insects; the external sides covered in green silk brocade with silver-thread ribbon borders

Height 4 in. by WIdth 19 in. by depth 14 1/2 in.

In good conserved condition with scattered losses to beads primarily around top edges. Canvas backing to bottom panel with minor buckling, and wear and discolouration to raised work commensurate with age, with some re-working to faces. Later green silk and metallic thread borders with minor wear and discolouration consistent with age and use. Colour in catalogue photos is generally accurate; overall colour perhaps slightly more grey under certain light.

Provenance

Sir Frederick Henry Richmond, Bt (1873-1953)
Christie’s South Kensington, An Important Collection of Needlework, June 23, 1987, lot 118
Garry Atkins, London

Exhibited

Victoria & Albert Museum, London
Milwaukee Art Museum, Strung, Woven, Knitted and Sewn: Beadwork from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, November 21, 1997- January 18, 1998

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CHARLES II era basket, 1680

Link to Sotheby’s listing

Multi-coloured beads worked on a cream silk ground with openwork sides; the base with a raised-work courting couple flanked by a leopard, lion, castle, pear and orange trees; the sides and handles in blue and white with flowers in each corner; with a protective Perspex case; losses and restoration to openwork

Height 5 1/2 in. by Width 21 in. by Depth 18 in.

Scattered losses and minor oxidation to beads throughout, with some splits to wires in pierced trellis sides, and one section restored entirely with white beads; visible in catalogue photographs. Raised work panel with losses and disclouration to silk ground and scattered losses and lifting to beadwork elements, consistent with age. Metal frame slightly mis-shapen in places, commensurate with age and handling.

Provenance: Leslie Maas

Exhibited

Milwaukee Art Museum, Strung, Woven, Knitted and Sewn: Beadwork from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, November 21, 1997- January 18, 1998

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Charles II era basket, 1662

Link to Sotheby’s Listing

Scattered losses to beads, visible in catalogue photographs. Metal handles and frame slightly mis-shapen in places with consequent light undulating to beaded panels, consistent with age and handling. Beaded ribbon borders surrounding bottom of basket slightly lifting in places with small losses.

Height 7 in. by Length 18 1/2 in. by Depth 13 1/2 in.

Initialed MB and dated 1662 on a white beaded ground, the base depicting a man and woman flanking the Royal Oak with the face of Charles II surrounded by deer, a leopard, dogs and a fox; the openwork sides and handles worked in multicolor stripes; some losses

Provenance: Alistair Sampson Antiques, Ltd., London

Exhibited

Milwaukee Art Museum, Strung, Woven, Knitted and Sewn: Beadwork from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, November 21, 1997- January 18, 1998

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