Bag
1630-1650 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Many decorative early 17th century bags survive, but it is not entirely certain how they were used and worn. They are too delicate and elaborate to serve as receptacles for money carried on one’s person on a daily basis. Few commercial exchanges in the early 17th century required cash, and most household shopping was done by servants. However, they were used as a form of gift-wrapping for the presents of coin that were offered as a New Year’s gifts to the monarch.
These embroidered bags may also be the ‘sweet bags’ frequently listed in inventories and offered as gifts. These held perfumed powder or dried flowers and herbs, and were perhaps applied to the nose like a pomander when necessary.
The rather simplified pattern of flowers worked in heavy silver and silver-gilt threads and dense texture of the embroidery is characteristic of the period 1630 to 1650.
These embroidered bags may also be the ‘sweet bags’ frequently listed in inventories and offered as gifts. These held perfumed powder or dried flowers and herbs, and were perhaps applied to the nose like a pomander when necessary.
The rather simplified pattern of flowers worked in heavy silver and silver-gilt threads and dense texture of the embroidery is characteristic of the period 1630 to 1650.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Linen, silk, silver-gilt thread, silk thread; hand sewn, hand embroidered |
| Brief description | Bag of embroidered canvas, 1630-1650, British; raised silver gilt thread, green silk trim |
| Physical description | A square, flat bag of linen embroidered with silver-gilt thread and green silk thread in gobelin, chain, stem, lattice and interlaced ladder stitches in pattern of flowers with raised petals in detached buttonhole stitch. It was once lined with coral-pink silk and has green silk and silver-gilt drawstring, finials, loops and tassels. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label |
|
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Many decorative early 17th century bags survive, but it is not entirely certain how they were used and worn. They are too delicate and elaborate to serve as receptacles for money carried on one’s person on a daily basis. Few commercial exchanges in the early 17th century required cash, and most household shopping was done by servants. However, they were used as a form of gift-wrapping for the presents of coin that were offered as a New Year’s gifts to the monarch. These embroidered bags may also be the ‘sweet bags’ frequently listed in inventories and offered as gifts. These held perfumed powder or dried flowers and herbs, and were perhaps applied to the nose like a pomander when necessary. The rather simplified pattern of flowers worked in heavy silver and silver-gilt threads and dense texture of the embroidery is characteristic of the period 1630 to 1650. |
| Bibliographic reference | John Lea Nevinson, Catalogue of English Domestic Embroidery of the Sixteenth & Seventeenth Centuries, Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Textiles, London: HMSO, 1938, p.99, plate LXIX |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 658-1904 |
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
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | July 9, 2008 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
