Embroidered Casket
ca. 1660-1675 (made)
| Place of origin |
Object Type
Embroidered caskets were made in the 17th century and used by girls from well-off families to store personal possessions. They often have secret drawers built into them, allowing girls to hide their keepsakes. Due to the cost of the materials, and the significant amount of time required to make an embroidered casket, they became prized possessions. As a result a significant number have survived in good condition.
Materials & Making
The panels for embroidered caskets were generally worked by young girls, around aged 11, as part of their education. Young girls in the 17th century would be taught needlework skills from a young age, starting with creating a sampler, then moving on the whitework and cutwork, and then finally creating a casket. The panels would then be sent off to be made up into a casket.
Embroidered caskets were made in the 17th century and used by girls from well-off families to store personal possessions. They often have secret drawers built into them, allowing girls to hide their keepsakes. Due to the cost of the materials, and the significant amount of time required to make an embroidered casket, they became prized possessions. As a result a significant number have survived in good condition.
Materials & Making
The panels for embroidered caskets were generally worked by young girls, around aged 11, as part of their education. Young girls in the 17th century would be taught needlework skills from a young age, starting with creating a sampler, then moving on the whitework and cutwork, and then finally creating a casket. The panels would then be sent off to be made up into a casket.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 51 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | satin embroidered with silk and metal threads |
| Brief description | Embroidered casket, top depicts the Sacrifice of Issac, satin worked with silk, English, 1660-1675 |
| Physical description | Embroidered casket. Decoration Satin ground worked in coloured silk and metal thread, also decorated with bobbin lace, edged with metallic braid. Each panel of the casket depicts a different scene, the top is Abraham and the Sacrifice of Issac. The casket is decorated all over with various flowers, animals and insects, some in raised work, typical of this work. The interior is lined with peach-pink fabric. There are two lock plates in gold. Construction Casket, comprised on three main sections. First section: Opened by lifting up the lid to reveal a small compartment for writing materials including letter slots, an ink pot and a sand pot. Second section: accessed by lifting up the top section, which hinges open to reveal a compartment. The lid holds a mirror. The tray is subdivided into multiple sections, one of which is a recessed compartment, the walls of which are set with small mirrors, and the base is decorated with a coloured print. Third section:Accessed by opening the front doors, contains two rows of drawers, one row has three small drawers and the other row has one large drawer. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | |
| Credit line | Given by Mr Henry Davis |
| Summary | Object Type Embroidered caskets were made in the 17th century and used by girls from well-off families to store personal possessions. They often have secret drawers built into them, allowing girls to hide their keepsakes. Due to the cost of the materials, and the significant amount of time required to make an embroidered casket, they became prized possessions. As a result a significant number have survived in good condition. Materials & Making The panels for embroidered caskets were generally worked by young girls, around aged 11, as part of their education. Young girls in the 17th century would be taught needlework skills from a young age, starting with creating a sampler, then moving on the whitework and cutwork, and then finally creating a casket. The panels would then be sent off to be made up into a casket. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.45-1973 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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