Pin Cushion thumbnail 1
Not on display

Pin Cushion

1670s (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Rectangular pin cushion decorated with a pattern and inscription of pins. The upper face is of pink plain woven silk, and the bottom face is of plain woven silk with a green warp and pink weft. The four edges are bound with a narrow ribbon of pink, yellow and cream stripes with a metal strip. There is a simple tassel of pink and cream silk bound with metal thread attached to a loop of the same metal thread at each corner.

The patten is symmetrical and floral with a thistle, rose and carnation. There are faint pin holes showing that previous designs and inscriptions had been built up with pins. The cushion is fully stuffed with a filling that feels like grain.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Plain woven silks bound with ribbon and metal thread
Brief description
Silk pin cushion, probably made by Martha Edlin, England, 1670s
Physical description
Rectangular pin cushion decorated with a pattern and inscription of pins. The upper face is of pink plain woven silk, and the bottom face is of plain woven silk with a green warp and pink weft. The four edges are bound with a narrow ribbon of pink, yellow and cream stripes with a metal strip. There is a simple tassel of pink and cream silk bound with metal thread attached to a loop of the same metal thread at each corner.

The patten is symmetrical and floral with a thistle, rose and carnation. There are faint pin holes showing that previous designs and inscriptions had been built up with pins. The cushion is fully stuffed with a filling that feels like grain.
Dimensions
  • Circumference (around vertical line of design) given as it is fully stuffed circumference: 23.5cm
  • Width: 22cm
  • Silk panel of upper face height: 11.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
'GOD.IS.A.PRESENT.HELPE.AT.NEED. / IT.IS.GOOD.TO.TRUST.IN.HIM. / LIVE.BY.FATH. / IOY.IN.HOPE. / E / W / A' (Inscribed; decoration of pins)
Credit line
Purchased with the assistance of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Art Fund
Object history
Purchased. Registered File number 1989/1572.
Associated with other objects made by Martha Edlin.
Formerly Lewis loan 28. See other Martha Edlin objects
Subject depicted
Collection
Accession number
T.448-1990

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Record createdJanuary 26, 1999
Record URL
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