Not currently on display at the V&A

Workbox

ca. 1780 to ca. 1820 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Green shagreen workbox, lined in cerulean blue silk satin. The top is marked out with the initials C.C in small metal studs. The interior fitted out with four round compartments and a silk satin covered bar which probably originally had two ribbons stretched across it, purpose of this unclear. Each round compartment contains an ivory spool-holder, two still containing their spools, with a small hole in the holder for the metal thread to come out. Each spool-holder with a coded lid, one plain, one with six inset silver stars, one with six inset gold stars, and the fourth with three silver and three gold inset stars.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
shagreen lined in silk satin, containing ivory and tortoiseshell spools and boxes, metal thread & sequins
Brief description
Green shagreen workbox, ca. 1780-ca. 1820, British
Physical description
Green shagreen workbox, lined in cerulean blue silk satin. The top is marked out with the initials C.C in small metal studs. The interior fitted out with four round compartments and a silk satin covered bar which probably originally had two ribbons stretched across it, purpose of this unclear. Each round compartment contains an ivory spool-holder, two still containing their spools, with a small hole in the holder for the metal thread to come out. Each spool-holder with a coded lid, one plain, one with six inset silver stars, one with six inset gold stars, and the fourth with three silver and three gold inset stars.
Dimensions
  • Shagreen box width: 17cm
  • Shagreen box height: 5.5cm
  • Shagreen box depth: 14cm
  • Each spool holder height: 3cm
  • Each spool holder width: 4.5cm
  • Each spool holder circumference: 12.5cm
Credit line
Bequeathed by Miss Winifred Mary Bompas
Associated object
T.95-1935 (Set)
Collection
Accession number
T.94-1935

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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