Pocket case of white silk satin embroidered with coloured silks and metal threads, 1700-1730, Italian; coat-of-arms

Pocket case of white silk satin, reinforced with card and lined with blue silk taffeta. It is embroidered in stem, satin, long and short stitches and French knots in coloured silks and couched with silver and silver-gilt wire, silver-gilt strip and filé. The front is worked in a design of flowers and scrolls and there is a coat-of-arms on the back, a horizontal bar and three crescents, surrounding it is a field of stars and a floral border. All edges are trimmed with a looped fringe of silver-gilt thread. The pocket case fastens with 2 tasselled strings of silver-gilt thread attached to the flap.

Bequeathed by Mrs J. R. Lee

The splendour of 18th-century purses, embroidered with silks and metal thread, is difficult to surpass. This little early 18th century pocket case or wallet is made of white satin embroidered with polychrome silks, silver-gilt wire, silver-gilt strip and braid in satin stitch, couching and speckling with french knots. Two tasselled strings of silver-gilt thread are attached to the flap and a looped fringe of silver-gilt thread runs around the edges.

T.46-1950