Holdall thumbnail 1
Holdall thumbnail 2
+1
images
Not currently on display at the V&A

Holdall

Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Hold-all and needle-case of linen, embroidered in cross-stitch with coloured silks, chiefly pink, orange, light green and purple. There is an oblong outer case of cream-coloured quilted satin, decorated with wavy stems and rosettes. It has a silk tape for typing.

The outside is embroidered in purple silk with the following verses:
'When Judah's daughters, captive led, beheld their mighty kings subdu'd; their holy see-and prophets dead, their santu'ries with blood imbru'd.
the exil'd widows, far expell'd, their infant-orphans closely press'd; and while the sickly charge they held, it died upon the mothers breast,
such woes, O Judah, were thy fate, by god's great Judgments overthrown and while their sorrows we relate, we read their suff'rings in our own.
orphans like these no parents care: our early lamp of life supply'd: like them we weep; yet not despair, since god vouchsafes our steps to guide.
as flow'rets bloom upon a grave, our gratitude from sorrow springs; the incense pure may angels save, and bear it on their balmy wings.
to him, who from heav'n's highest, throne beholds his children in destres and claims the orphan for his own, as father of the fatherless.'

Above are a flowering plant issuing from a two-handled vase, two baskets of fruit, and butterflies; below, a fruit tree with a bird on either side. There is a border all round of a zigzag continuous stem with pink flowers resembling carnations. The inside has four pockets and at the bottom are three pieces of quilted satin for holding needles. There is a similar floral border to the outside round each pocket, and in the middle are worked the following verses in purple silk:
'Chill'd by the blasts of adverse, fate opress'd by sorrow's gloom, the soothing voice of Parent love all hush'd within the tomb.
without us, want his vigils kept; within us silent woe; our infant minds in fearful thought made ev'ry shade a foe,
god' pitying eye our trouble saw, and instantly relief broke through the wintry clouds of woe, and scatter'd ev'ry grief.
beneath his heav'nly wings we find a calm and safe retreat: O, then let ev'ry orphan breast with grateful transport beat!'


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Holdall
  • Needlecase
Materials and techniques
Linen embroidered with coloured silks; quilted satin
Brief description
Hold-all and needle-case, linen embroidered with coloured silks; quilted satin, England, 18th century
Physical description
Hold-all and needle-case of linen, embroidered in cross-stitch with coloured silks, chiefly pink, orange, light green and purple. There is an oblong outer case of cream-coloured quilted satin, decorated with wavy stems and rosettes. It has a silk tape for typing.

The outside is embroidered in purple silk with the following verses:
'When Judah's daughters, captive led, beheld their mighty kings subdu'd; their holy see-and prophets dead, their santu'ries with blood imbru'd.
the exil'd widows, far expell'd, their infant-orphans closely press'd; and while the sickly charge they held, it died upon the mothers breast,
such woes, O Judah, were thy fate, by god's great Judgments overthrown and while their sorrows we relate, we read their suff'rings in our own.
orphans like these no parents care: our early lamp of life supply'd: like them we weep; yet not despair, since god vouchsafes our steps to guide.
as flow'rets bloom upon a grave, our gratitude from sorrow springs; the incense pure may angels save, and bear it on their balmy wings.
to him, who from heav'n's highest, throne beholds his children in destres and claims the orphan for his own, as father of the fatherless.'

Above are a flowering plant issuing from a two-handled vase, two baskets of fruit, and butterflies; below, a fruit tree with a bird on either side. There is a border all round of a zigzag continuous stem with pink flowers resembling carnations. The inside has four pockets and at the bottom are three pieces of quilted satin for holding needles. There is a similar floral border to the outside round each pocket, and in the middle are worked the following verses in purple silk:
'Chill'd by the blasts of adverse, fate opress'd by sorrow's gloom, the soothing voice of Parent love all hush'd within the tomb.
without us, want his vigils kept; within us silent woe; our infant minds in fearful thought made ev'ry shade a foe,
god' pitying eye our trouble saw, and instantly relief broke through the wintry clouds of woe, and scatter'd ev'ry grief.
beneath his heav'nly wings we find a calm and safe retreat: O, then let ev'ry orphan breast with grateful transport beat!'
Object history
Purchased. Registered File number 80489/1903, 3675/1903.
Subject depicted
Collection
Accession number
1&A-1903

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 createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest