Object Type
Embroidery was much used for the bindings of religious books or presentation copies in England in the 16th and early 17th century. Although new covers might sometimes be made for precious books of an earlier date, the embroidery here is likely to be contemporary with the books.
Materials & Making
Bookbindings were sometimes worked by skilled amateur embroiderers. The best known examples are a series of books with embroidered bindings made by the future Queen Elizabeth I as New Year gifts for her father, Henry VIII, and his last wife, Katherine Parr. However, the materials that have been used here - metal thread, strip and purl - are difficult to use. When applied in embroidery of this quality, they almost always indicate professional work.
People
This binding was almost certainly carried out by a member of the Broderers' Company in London. The company was granted its charter for the organisation of professional work in 1561 and regulated the quality of embroideries sold to the public.
Physical description
Embroidered binding for 'The Book of Common Prayer' and bookmark.
[Book cover] Board covers covered with red satin and embroidered with silver and silver-gilt-thread, purl and coil, and with coloured silks. The ground is entirely covered with laid silver thread, couched with red silk in a diaper pattern and, within some patterned areas, with blue silk and yellow silk in a chequered pattern. The front and back covers are both decorated with five medallions each within an elaborate padded frame worked in metal purl and coil. Within the central medallion is a fountain worked three dimensionally in metal strip, purl and coil. In the four surrounding medallions are the four evangelists worked with coloured silks in long and short, split, stem and brick stitches, with French knots, some raised work and details in metal coil.
The spine is divided into four compartments by raised lines of metal thread, and within each compartment is a raised metal thread cartouche containing a formal pattern of a flowerhead within an oval, worked in laid metal thread and silk.
The whole is outlined with a raised border. Two rows of heavy chain stitch with, between them, a couched line of silver coil.
[Book mark] Bookmark with a T-bar of pink silk threads round a hard core with silver thread, leaving tufts of silk at either end. A plaited pink silk bar is attached to the under side and to this are tied two lines of plaited threads to lie between the pages. Both plaited lines are later replacements.
Place of Origin
London, England (embroidered)
Date
ca. 1634 (made)
Artist/maker
Broderers Company (probably, maker)
Materials and Techniques
Satin covered board, embroidered with silver, silver-gilt-thread, purl and coil, and coloured silks, and plaited threads
Dimensions
[Book cover] Height: 17.8 cm, Width: 12.1 cm, Depth: 6.5 cm, Height: 7 in, Width: 4.75 in, Depth: 2.375 in
[Book mark] Length: 2.5 in top, Length: 6 cm top, Length: 7.25 in string, Length: 18 cm string, Length: 6.5 cm string, Length: 16.5 cm string
Object history note
Registered File number 1987/707.
Descriptive line
Embroidered binding for 'The Book of Common Prayer' and bookmark, possibly by Broderers Company, embroidered in London, ca. 1634
Exhibition History
The Golden Age of the English Court: From Henry VIII to Charles I (Moscow Kremlin Museums 24 Oct 2012-27 Jan 2013)
National Exhibition of Needlework: Scottish Women's Rural Institutes (Royal Scottish Academy 01/10/1934-31/10/1934)
Labels and date
British Galleries:
Embroidery was often used for the bindings of precious books. It was supplied by professional embroiderers, members of the Broderers' Company. This binding has an elaborate strapwork design with the Fountain of life in the central cartouche, and smaller pictures of the four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. [27/03/2003]
Production Note
About 1634, for 'The Booke of Common Prayer', 1633, published by Robert Barker, London; 'The Whole Book of Psalmes', 1634
Materials
Silk thread; Silver thread; Silver-gilt thread; Purl
Techniques
Embroidered; Satin weave; Plaited
Subjects depicted
John (Saint John the Evangelist); Luke (Saint); Mark (Saint); Matthew (Saint)
Categories
British Galleries; Textiles; Christianity; Embroidery; Books
Collection code
T&F
