A custom made red and white sequined beret created by British milliner and designer David Shilling for Captain Sensible of The Damned, dating to the early 1980s — presented to Captain Sensible on live television during a TV appearance of that era and worn by him exclusively away from Damned shows. Accompanied by a signed personal letter from Captain Sensible and the original Bonhams lot tag.
Historical Context
The Damned are a British punk rock band formed in London in 1976. Captain Sensible (born Raymond Ian Burns) is the band’s lead guitarist and a founding member, whose red beret became one of the most iconic items of personal styling in British punk history. The sequined beret offered here is a distinct and separate piece from his standard red beret stage costume — created as a bespoke commission by one of Britain’s most celebrated milliners.
David Shilling is a British hat designer who achieved widespread public recognition in the 1970s and 1980s, particularly for the extravagant and architecturally ambitious hats he created for his mother to wear at Royal Ascot each year — a tradition that generated annual international press coverage. His work is held in museum collections and he is regarded as one of the most significant British milliners of the 20th century. A beret created by Shilling as a gift for a prominent punk rock personality on live British television represents an unlikely but characteristically vivid cultural collision of that era.
Television Presentation
This beret was presented to Captain Sensible on live television during a TV appearance in the early 1980s. In his signed letter accompanying the piece (June 23, 2021), Captain Sensible describes the circumstances:
“I was presented with this spectacular sequined beret on live TV after an appearance back in the ‘glory days’ when I got invited (thanks mainly to Happy Talk!) onto all sorts of programmes, often at obscene times in the morning too. Anyway, in the intervening years I seem to have forgotten what the actual show was but think it may have been Michael Aspel who handed it to me. Made by David Shilling specially for the performance.”
Specifications
· Designer: David Shilling, London
· Type: Custom made sequined beret
· Construction: Two-toned sequin construction — predominantly red sequins covering the upper body, with a distinct white/iridescent sequin section on the lower portion, separated by black trim edging. Sequins described by Bonhams as having black stalks. Red satin interior lining.
· Interior: “DS” metal monogram pin (David Shilling’s initials) affixed to the interior; interior label reads “I Got It From DAVID SHILLING ON Wednesday”
· Diameter: 13 in. (33 cm.) per Bonhams catalogue
Condition
Well preserved relative to its age and consistent with the care Captain Sensible describes: “its far posher than the berets I usually wore so I looked after this one… and only wore it away from Damned shows.” No significant condition issues noted in the Bonhams catalogue or since acquisition.
Included Items
Signed personal letter from Captain Sensible. Original Bonhams auction lot tag (Lot 294, November 17, 2021).
Provenance
Gifted to Captain Sensible on live television in the early 1980s, made by David Shilling specially for the occasion. Retained by Captain Sensible for approximately four decades before being offered at auction.
Bonhams: Film, Rock & Pop (including property from the Estate of Diana Rigg) | London, Knightsbridge | November 17, 2021 | Lot 294
Acquired by the current owner at the above Bonhams sale. Accompanied by a signed handwritten personal letter from Captain Sensible dated June 23, 2021, written on Luke Cauldwell-illustrated letterhead to which Captain Sensible has added the heading “Captain Sensible’s SEQUINED BERET” in his own hand, providing the full history of the piece in Captain Sensible’s own words as noted earlier. The original Bonhams lot tag is also included.
Nostalgia Bandit Letter of Provenance
This lot will be accompanied by a Nostalgia Bandit Letter of Provenance — a document printed on official Nostalgia Bandit letterhead, signed by Nostalgia Bandit’s principal, and affixed with the official Nostalgia Bandit embossed seal. The Letter of Provenance reproduces the complete final auction description for this lot in full, memorializing all provenance documentation, attribution, supporting evidence, and condition details as presented herein. It is designed to travel with the lot through all future ownership transfers as a permanent, platform-independent physical record of the item’s documented history.
Shipping & Measurements
FIRST AND THIRD PARTY SHIPPING OPTIONS AVAILABLE. Contact Nostalgia Bandit for a shipping quote: shipping@nostalgiabandit.com
