Purse thumbnail 1
Purse thumbnail 2
+1
images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 56, The Djanogly Gallery

Purse

ca. 1600-1625 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

In the seventeenth century, needle lace and embroidery patterns were disseminated through pattern books such as The Needle's Excelency published by James Boler (1631). Many seventeenth-century embroidered purses have been collected and prized for the livelieness of their embroidery and tiny scale. They were particularly valued by Edwardian collectors, such as Lord Lever, who formed large collections of sixteenth- and seventeenth- century embroidery.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Embroidered canvas with silk and metal threads, purl and spangles, and lined with silk taffeta and with plaited silk strings
Brief description
Square flat canvas purse embroidered with silk and metal threads, England, ca. 1600-1625
Physical description
Square flat purse of canvas with an embroidered ground of silver thread. A raised pattern of scrolling chains of silver-gilt purl surround honeysuckle, borage, rose, gilly flower, rose hips, grapes, pea pods and a butterfly. These are embroidered with detached leaves and petals in coloured silks, silver thread, silver-gilt thread, purl and spangles. The purse is lined with salmon pink silk taffeta. Flat salmon pink silk braid forms the ties with two pear-shaped finials covered in silver thread and coloured silks.
Dimensions
  • Length: 14.5cm
  • Width: 12.6cm
Credit line
Given by Margaret Simeon
Object history
Registered File number 1992/524.
Subjects depicted
Summary
In the seventeenth century, needle lace and embroidery patterns were disseminated through pattern books such as The Needle's Excelency published by James Boler (1631). Many seventeenth-century embroidered purses have been collected and prized for the livelieness of their embroidery and tiny scale. They were particularly valued by Edwardian collectors, such as Lord Lever, who formed large collections of sixteenth- and seventeenth- century embroidery.
Collection
Accession number
T.127-1992

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdFebruary 25, 2003
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest