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Beadwork christening basket, 1659. The basic structure is made from a stiff material possibly metal wire. This forms a trapezoid shape with a small base for it to sit on. The ‘wire’ is wrapped initially in an open weave cellulosic fabric and then in green silk ribbon. The interior is entirely covered in elaborate glass beadwork, the beads are sewn with silk thread to open weave cellulosic fabric. Worked densely in panels which have been stitched together along the edges using an over-casting stitch in cream cotton thread and backed with green silk. The beading motifs consist of animal, insect, plant and birds with a house on one side and a castle on the other. In the centre there is a male and female figure dressed in costume of the period, the faces are made of silk. On one of the sides there are two figures which appear to be part of a hunting scene. The design is typical of embroidery of the time with motifs being of unrealistic proportions and in places almost dotted around to fill the gaps in the design. Around the edge of the central panel cream coloured beads (maybe a different material, bone?) have been used to spell out: ‘MIRABILE OSNE ANNO 1659’.