Bodkin Case
18th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Small cases like this were used in the home to store bodkins (small pointed instruments for piercing holes in cloth) and other sewing equipment. This one was made using the intricate technique of piqué which was perfected in Paris in the 18th century. It required skilled craftsmen to inlay turtle shell (now known as tortoiseshell) with tiny gold pins and strips of gold to create delicate decorative patterns.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Picque, inlaid tortoiseshell, gold |
| Brief description | Bodkin case, tortoiseshell inlaid with gold, France, 18th century |
| Physical description | Picque, inlaid tortoise-shell. Tubular with separate cap. Overall design of naturalistic running foliage with flowers. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | Silver Gallery:
Cases such as these were used to store bodkins and other sewing equipment. The example on the right is decorated with very fine piqué point decoration and engraved grooves which do not appear to have contained inlaid wires.(26/11/2002) |
| Credit line | Griffin Bequest |
| Summary | Small cases like this were used in the home to store bodkins (small pointed instruments for piercing holes in cloth) and other sewing equipment. This one was made using the intricate technique of piqué which was perfected in Paris in the 18th century. It required skilled craftsmen to inlay turtle shell (now known as tortoiseshell) with tiny gold pins and strips of gold to create delicate decorative patterns. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.228-1960 |
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| Record created | February 9, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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