Pocket Book
18th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Many workshops in early eighteenth century France produced small purses for women and pocket books (wallets) for men. The finest work was in beadwork, in particular the sable-worked, drawstring purses and pocket books of the mid-eighteenth century, so finely beaded they resembled grains of sand. They were made in specialist workshops in Paris using up to 1000 per square inch of extremely small and fine glass Bohemian and Venetian beads. This pocket book is inscribed IAME MON ESCLAVAGE and ICY EST MON SECRET and bears a French ducal crown and heraldic arms.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Beadwork embroidery |
| Brief description | Pocket book of beadwork embroidery, M, France, 18th century |
| Physical description | Finely beaded and embroidered purse with the inscription 'IAME MON ESCLAVAGE' and 'ICY EST MON SECRET' and various flower designs. |
| Marks and inscriptions |
|
| Gallery label | The French inscriptions on this pocket case read, 'J'aime mon escavage' (I love my slavery) at the back, and 'Icy est mon secret' (This is my secret) at the front. They suggest that the purse may have been intended as a gift or to hold letters from a secret lover.
V&A, Room 40, Bags: Inside Out. (12/2020) |
| Credit line | Given by Margaret Simeon |
| Object history | Registered File number 1992/1020. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Association | |
| Summary | Many workshops in early eighteenth century France produced small purses for women and pocket books (wallets) for men. The finest work was in beadwork, in particular the sable-worked, drawstring purses and pocket books of the mid-eighteenth century, so finely beaded they resembled grains of sand. They were made in specialist workshops in Paris using up to 1000 per square inch of extremely small and fine glass Bohemian and Venetian beads. This pocket book is inscribed IAME MON ESCLAVAGE and ICY EST MON SECRET and bears a French ducal crown and heraldic arms. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.168-1992 |
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| Record created | February 25, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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