Book Cover thumbnail 1
Book Cover thumbnail 2
Not on display

Book Cover

17th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Embroidery was much used for the bindings of religious books or presentation copies in the 16th and 17th centuries. Bookbindings were sometimes worked by skilled amateur embroiderers. The best known examples are a series of books with embroidered bindings made by the future Queen Elizabeth I as New Year gifts for her father, Henry VIII, and his last wife, Katherine Parr. However, the materials that have been used here - metal thread, strip and purl - are difficult to work with. When applied in embroidery of this quality, they almost always indicate professional work.

This binding showes two scenes from the Old Testament, the Sacrifice of Isaac, and Jonah and the Whale.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Book Cover
  • Book Cover
  • Book Cover
Materials and techniques
Silk satin embroidered in coloured silks and metal thread, mounted on board
Brief description
Book cover, in three parts, in silk satin with embroidery in metal thread and silks, mounted on boards, Italy, 17th century
Physical description
Book cover in white silk satin with embroidery in metal thread and coloured silks. The cover is in poor condition, and now is in three separate pieces, each mounted for support on board.

T.395:1 is the spine. The other two parts are the front and back covers (with no indication of which is which). They both have the same layout, of an oval picture with an elaborate raised-work frame in silver gilt thread, with a lion's head at the top and a shield at the base, now too disfigured to interpret. Flowers fill the corners outside the oval.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Embroidery was much used for the bindings of religious books or presentation copies in the 16th and 17th centuries. Bookbindings were sometimes worked by skilled amateur embroiderers. The best known examples are a series of books with embroidered bindings made by the future Queen Elizabeth I as New Year gifts for her father, Henry VIII, and his last wife, Katherine Parr. However, the materials that have been used here - metal thread, strip and purl - are difficult to work with. When applied in embroidery of this quality, they almost always indicate professional work.

This binding showes two scenes from the Old Testament, the Sacrifice of Isaac, and Jonah and the Whale.
Collection
Accession number
T.395:1 to 3-1998

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJanuary 26, 2007
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest