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Pin cushion

Pin cushion

  • Place of origin:

    England, Great Britain (made)

  • Date:

    1660-1699 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Satin embroidered with silk, silver and silver gilt thread, metal cord and purl inlaid work, bound with silver gilt braid

  • Credit Line:

    Given by Peter Barker-Mill

  • Museum number:

    T.54-1978

  • Gallery location:

    British Galleries, room 54a, case 2

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Object Type
This pin cushion characterises the style of embroidery of the 1660s and 1670s. The preference is for mainly metal threads worked over thick padding, giving a heavy three-dimensional effect. The embroidery design is quite architectural, incorporating stylised floral patterns.

Physical description

Small, rectangular pin cushion of deep purple satin embroidered with silver gilt and silver thread with metal cord and purl inlaid work with some padding. It is also embroidered with some coloured silks in satin stitch.

The edges are bound with a silver gilt braid and at each corner are tassels of purple ribbon and silver gilt and silver thread attached to wooden balls wrapped in silver thread.

Both sides of the pin cushion have closely packed floral borders. In the centre of once side is a pot of flowers and in the centre of the other, a crowned wreath enclosing a monogram.

Place of Origin

England, Great Britain (made)

Date

1660-1699 (made)

Artist/maker

unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Satin embroidered with silk, silver and silver gilt thread, metal cord and purl inlaid work, bound with silver gilt braid

Marks and inscriptions

'A.E.'

Dimensions

Width: 7.9 cm, Length: 9.6 cm, Depth: 3.7 cm, Width: 3.125 in, Length: 3.875 in, Depth: 1.5 in

Object history note

Made in England

Descriptive line

Pin cushion of embroidered satin, England, 1650-1699

Labels and date

British Galleries:
PURSE AND PIN CUSHIONS

By 1680 women used fewer pins for their clothing than in 1600. As a consequence, these pin cushions are much smaller than those used earlier. Their dense, metal thread embroidery also leaves little room for pins.The display of luxury trinkets such as these in a lady's dressing room provoked contemporary writers to mock such extravagance. [27/03/2003]

Categories

Embroidery; Needlework accessories

Collection code

T&F

Download image
Qr_O78883
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