At the star-studded Caudwell Children's Charity Ball and Auction in London's Battersea Evolution Park, Mark Wilkinson's armoire-de-chambre Marilyn, was the focus of bidding that elevated it to the highest single bid of the night, commanding a final offer of £90,000.

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When asked a few years ago to design a bedroom cabinet where a lady could keep her finest lingerie and treasured jewellery, Mark Wilkinson glued together strips of walnut, drew out the shape that he wanted, roughed it out on a hi-tech woodworking machine and then began the hand-work that finally formed the piece. "I could imagine no better place to 'store' beautiful jewellery than about the form of one of the World's most beautiful women," says Mark Wilkinson, "and Marilyn Monroe definitely fits that description." Mark Wilkinson Furniture was recently bought by entrepreneur Leo Caplan, both Mark and Leo have a passion for helping children in need and so when Leo asked the designer if he could provide something that they could donate for the Caudwell Children's Charity Butterfly Ball, it was all the inspiration that Mark Wilkinson needed to create 'The Butterfly Marilyn.'

The feature of difference, which makes this cabinet a complete one-off, are the new handles, which are themselves pieces of jewellery, being cast in Sterling Silver and enamelled with Pave Diamonds and Australian Opals, in Blue, Pink & Mauve - the body of the cabinet is eco-sourced Walnut, finished by hand in the company's workshops in Wiltshire.

Mark is still very heavily involved in creating new designs for the company he founded, Mark Wilkinson Furniture, although the running of the business is the domain of Leo Caplan and his team.

"Working with a designer of the stature of Mark Wilkinson is a real privilege," says Leo Caplan, "Mark has never professed to be a business man, but he is an exceptionally creative and prolific designer. Marilyn is just one of hundreds of design pieces that we in the UK barely know about - I aim to change that.

The people attending the Caudwell Ball were business people, Britain's Rich-List, never the easiest to impress and yet the bidding went around the room so quickly it almost made your head spin.

For a Mark Wilkinson piece to command such a price is terrific for the children and a wonderful indicator that this British designer may finally be heading for the appreciation that his work deserves. I am delighted to be working with him."