Etui thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Silver, Room 69, The Whiteley Galleries

Etui

1680-1699 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

An étui is a small ornamented case fitted with miniature implements for a woman’s daily use. They might include items such as scissors, bodkins, needles, a thimble, a tiny knife, a pencil, or an ivory writing tablet. Etuis were worn in Europe from the 17th to the 19th centuries. This example is in the form of a graduated rectangle with a detachable lid in silver floral openwork.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Etui
  • Lid
Materials and techniques
Steel with silver openwork
Brief description
Etui with detachable lid, steel encased in silver floral openwork, Germany, 1680-1699
Physical description
Steel etui in the form of a graduated rectangle with detachable lid with a pair of loops possibly for a chain, encased in silver floral openwork.
Dimensions
  • Height: 2.7cm
  • Length: 8.9cm
Gallery label
  • Etui Steel encased in silver floral openwork. German; early 18th century. 450-1882 NB mark.(Pre-2000)
  • Silver Gallery: Steel etui with detachable lid, encased in silver floral openwork. Similar etuis were used for sewing equipment.(26/11/2002)
Object history
Purchase - (£1.10.1) Heilbronner, Munich (12/09/1882)
Subject depicted
Summary
An étui is a small ornamented case fitted with miniature implements for a woman’s daily use. They might include items such as scissors, bodkins, needles, a thimble, a tiny knife, a pencil, or an ivory writing tablet. Etuis were worn in Europe from the 17th to the 19th centuries. This example is in the form of a graduated rectangle with a detachable lid in silver floral openwork.
Collection
Accession number
450:1, 2-1882

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Record createdFebruary 20, 2004
Record URL
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