Bag
1628 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A number of beaded bags from the early 17th century survive. Their stylised floral patterns and less expensive materials imitate the elaborate embroidered versions carried by the aristocracy. Many bear mottos or expressions relating to charity, friendship or luck, which suggests that they may have been used for gifts of money. This example is inscribed 'the gift of a frend'.
The development of the 'drawn-glass' technique about 1490 allowed the manufacture of large numbers of small, round, coloured beads with a central hole, of the type used in this purse. The glassworks on the island of Murano near Venice were the most famous during the Renaissance, but by the early 17th century the technology had spread to glass-making centres in Amsterdam and Bavaria. Beads were produced mainly for trade with North America and Africa, but they were also sold in Europe for use in embroidery.
The development of the 'drawn-glass' technique about 1490 allowed the manufacture of large numbers of small, round, coloured beads with a central hole, of the type used in this purse. The glassworks on the island of Murano near Venice were the most famous during the Renaissance, but by the early 17th century the technology had spread to glass-making centres in Amsterdam and Bavaria. Beads were produced mainly for trade with North America and Africa, but they were also sold in Europe for use in embroidery.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Kidskin leather, silk, glass beads, lined with silk, hand sewn, hand beaded, hand plaited |
| Brief description | Bag of beaded kidskin leather and silk, Great Britain, 1628 |
| Physical description | Flat and square bag of kidskin leather covered with red silk at the top and beaded in a repeating pattern of an abstract floral motif with maroon, blue, yellow and white glass beads. The bag is lined with brown silk and has a drawstring of plaited pink and green silk thread, and with beaded finials. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | THE GIFT OFA FRIEND 1628 (Worked in white beads) |
| Credit line | Bequeathed by Frank Ward |
| Summary | A number of beaded bags from the early 17th century survive. Their stylised floral patterns and less expensive materials imitate the elaborate embroidered versions carried by the aristocracy. Many bear mottos or expressions relating to charity, friendship or luck, which suggests that they may have been used for gifts of money. This example is inscribed 'the gift of a frend'. The development of the 'drawn-glass' technique about 1490 allowed the manufacture of large numbers of small, round, coloured beads with a central hole, of the type used in this purse. The glassworks on the island of Murano near Venice were the most famous during the Renaissance, but by the early 17th century the technology had spread to glass-making centres in Amsterdam and Bavaria. Beads were produced mainly for trade with North America and Africa, but they were also sold in Europe for use in embroidery. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.249-1960 |
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| Record created | July 11, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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