Embroidered Casket
1650-1675 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
Caskets were made and used by girls in the 17th century. The girls would decorate small panels with embroidery which would then be sent to a cabinet-maker to be made up into a casket. They were often fitted with compartments for sewing and writing as well as a small mirror. Many cabinets also had secret compartments, used to store personal possessions such as jewellery or letters. The high cost of the materials, as well as the skill needed to create these caskets, means they could only have been made in wealthy households.
People
The panels were worked by young girls, aged around 11 or 12, as part of their education. Girls started learning needlework skills aged 6 or 7, first creating a band sampler (see T.433-1990) and then moving on to more complex pieces such as cutwork. Embroidering the panels of a casket or for a mirror (see T.17-1955) appears to have been one of the last stages of a girl’s needlework education. These skills would be useful later in life in the management of a household.
Materials & Designs
Biblical, mythological and classical scenes were all popular themes for decorating caskets. This casket has been inspired by multiple sources. The top depicts a biblical scene of Moses in the Bull Rushes, while the sides are decorated with the personification of the four elements, earth, air, fire and water. While some girls may have designs their own panels, taking inspiration from sources such as illustrated bibles, it also appears to have been possible to have purchased designs, which the embroiderer could then customise by using certain colours or adding in features.
Caskets were made and used by girls in the 17th century. The girls would decorate small panels with embroidery which would then be sent to a cabinet-maker to be made up into a casket. They were often fitted with compartments for sewing and writing as well as a small mirror. Many cabinets also had secret compartments, used to store personal possessions such as jewellery or letters. The high cost of the materials, as well as the skill needed to create these caskets, means they could only have been made in wealthy households.
People
The panels were worked by young girls, aged around 11 or 12, as part of their education. Girls started learning needlework skills aged 6 or 7, first creating a band sampler (see T.433-1990) and then moving on to more complex pieces such as cutwork. Embroidering the panels of a casket or for a mirror (see T.17-1955) appears to have been one of the last stages of a girl’s needlework education. These skills would be useful later in life in the management of a household.
Materials & Designs
Biblical, mythological and classical scenes were all popular themes for decorating caskets. This casket has been inspired by multiple sources. The top depicts a biblical scene of Moses in the Bull Rushes, while the sides are decorated with the personification of the four elements, earth, air, fire and water. While some girls may have designs their own panels, taking inspiration from sources such as illustrated bibles, it also appears to have been possible to have purchased designs, which the embroiderer could then customise by using certain colours or adding in features.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Wood, embroidered satin with silks, silk cord, metal purl, metal strip and seed pearls, mica, silver braid, brass, lined with silk and paper. |
| Brief description | Embroidered Casket, satin worked in coloured silk threads, top depicts the Finding of Moses in the Bullrushes, English, 1650-75 |
| Physical description | Embroidered casket Decoration & Design Satin panels worked with silk threads. The windows of the house are of mica and the animals on the side panels are in raised work. The edges are trimmed with silver braid and there are two small brass handles attached to the lid. The feet are missing. The top depicts Finding of Moses in the Bull Rushes, and the scene is enclosed by a cartouche of looped silk braid and twisted silk thread, and in the corners are padded pomegranates and leaves of coloured purl. The front and the two side panels are embroidered with female figures representing the four elements of earth, air, fire and water. The back has a pastoral scene depicting a courtly shepherd and shepherdess, and also a griffin and a cockatrice. The interior is lined with pink silk and purple paper and the edges are stamped. Construction Wooden casket, flat and rectangular, covered with cream satin. The lid hinges open to reveal the interior. The top tray lifts out to reveal three small drawers in its base. Two further drawers are hidden in the upper tray. There is space below the tray for paper. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Bequeathed by Brigadier W. E. Clark |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Object Type Caskets were made and used by girls in the 17th century. The girls would decorate small panels with embroidery which would then be sent to a cabinet-maker to be made up into a casket. They were often fitted with compartments for sewing and writing as well as a small mirror. Many cabinets also had secret compartments, used to store personal possessions such as jewellery or letters. The high cost of the materials, as well as the skill needed to create these caskets, means they could only have been made in wealthy households. People The panels were worked by young girls, aged around 11 or 12, as part of their education. Girls started learning needlework skills aged 6 or 7, first creating a band sampler (see T.433-1990) and then moving on to more complex pieces such as cutwork. Embroidering the panels of a casket or for a mirror (see T.17-1955) appears to have been one of the last stages of a girl’s needlework education. These skills would be useful later in life in the management of a household. Materials & Designs Biblical, mythological and classical scenes were all popular themes for decorating caskets. This casket has been inspired by multiple sources. The top depicts a biblical scene of Moses in the Bull Rushes, while the sides are decorated with the personification of the four elements, earth, air, fire and water. While some girls may have designs their own panels, taking inspiration from sources such as illustrated bibles, it also appears to have been possible to have purchased designs, which the embroiderer could then customise by using certain colours or adding in features. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.78-1969 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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