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Purse and pin cushion

Purse and pin cushion

  • Place of origin:

    England, Great Britain (made)

  • Date:

    1600-1650 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Embroidered in metal threads and coloured silk

  • Credit Line:

    Bequeathed by Sir Frederick Richmond, Bt

  • Museum number:

    T.52&A-1954

  • Gallery location:

    In store

  • Download image

Embroidery skills were taught to young girls as a part of their domestic education and played an integral part in everyday Tudor and Elizabethan life. Many early seventeenth century purses are in very good condition, suggesting that they were valued keepsakes. Some purses and matching pincushions show no evidence of pin marks at all, but may have been hung from the waist of aristocratic ladies to be seen rather than used.

Physical description

Purse with matching pincushion, embroidered with silver and silver-gilt thread and coloured silk, in tent and braid stitches. Drawstring of blue silk braid. A design of birds amongst floral sprays

Place of Origin

England, Great Britain (made)

Date

1600-1650 (made)

Artist/maker

unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Embroidered in metal threads and coloured silk

Dimensions

[Pin cushion] Height: 2.5 in, Width: 2.5 in
[Purse] Height: 4.5 in, Width: 5 in

Materials

Silk; Metal thread

Categories

Embroidery; Accessories

Collection code

T&D

Download image
Qr_O74996
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