Gems at Auction this Week

In response to the post on early caps and coifs last week, someone asked if there were ever early babies' caps or bonnets. And the answer is yes, as you can see above. These are two 18th century bonnets. The one to the rear of the picture is a Queen Anne period baby`s bonnet of circa 1700-1710, composed of fine cotton lawn embroidered with meandering flowers and scrollwork. At the front you can see an 18th century baby`s bonnet applied with a sequinned panel to the centre, bordered by woven floral ornamentation, the interior lined with check print cotton panels. They both compose lot 388 with an estimate of £80 - £160 as part of the Deeley Collection at Wilkinson's Auctioneers, Doncaster on December 12.

Also part of the Deeley Collection for auction at Wilkinson's Auctioneers, Doncaster on December 12 is this lot 386 - a small 17th century purse embroidered with a flowering and fruiting plants upon a silvered thread ground. There are tassels at each corner, and a large bell form tassel hooped to the end. The lower edge has three ball tassels. The woven strap has an interlaced knot. It measures 5½ ins x 4½ ins (14 cms x 12 cms) and has an estimate of £50 - £100.

Back to the grown-ups now and Canterbury Auction Galleries has this lot 867 which is a late 17th/early 18th century embroidered blue velvet sleeping cap worked with floral motifs. It does have damage. Sale date is December 8 and the estimate is £70 - £100

The last item is quite a find and thank goodness for phone-in auctions, because it is possible that you wouldn't make it through the snow in time for this auction in Carlisle by Thomas Roddick & Medcalf. This is lot 352 and is just as the embroiderer left it. Here you can see an antique embroidered jacket front panel, matching cuffs & collar band, all intricately worked with foliate scroll motifs in gilt thread, the panel is approx. 19½” long, the cuffs 7½” wide. & the collar panel 13½” long. The auction will be on December 10