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Pocket Book

1720-1740 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Rectangular pocket book with flap of white satin and lined with white silk. The front is worked with three leafy stems, bearing roses and strawberries, springing from a vase; and the flap has similar stems and a rosette. The back has two stems with various flowers growing from a leafy device; in the middle is a winged heart and a small bird. Leaves and stems embroidered with coloured silks, chiefly yellow and shades of green, in satin stitch shading, and bows in silver thread. Flowers, winged heart and bird ingeniously executed with natural and shades of red, possibly dyed, straw splints in satin stitch, porcupine quill work (zig zag pattern using contrasting colours of the straw) and wrapping (straw splint wrapped round a length of thread). The outline of the straw motifs is a couched line of a fine two straw plait, probably splints. The edges of the pocket book are bound with a narrow silver braid.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Satin silk embroidered with silks in satin stitch shading, couched metal thread, and straw splints in satin stitch, porcupine quill work and wrapping
Brief description
Man's pocket book of white satin, 1720-40, probably Italian; embroidered with coloured silks, metal thread and straw splints
Physical description
Rectangular pocket book with flap of white satin and lined with white silk. The front is worked with three leafy stems, bearing roses and strawberries, springing from a vase; and the flap has similar stems and a rosette. The back has two stems with various flowers growing from a leafy device; in the middle is a winged heart and a small bird. Leaves and stems embroidered with coloured silks, chiefly yellow and shades of green, in satin stitch shading, and bows in silver thread. Flowers, winged heart and bird ingeniously executed with natural and shades of red, possibly dyed, straw splints in satin stitch, porcupine quill work (zig zag pattern using contrasting colours of the straw) and wrapping (straw splint wrapped round a length of thread). The outline of the straw motifs is a couched line of a fine two straw plait, probably splints. The edges of the pocket book are bound with a narrow silver braid.
Dimensions
  • Length: 177mm
  • Excluding flap width: 120mm
Flap maximum width 64 mm
Gallery label
(12/2020)
The 18th century saw a shift from silver coins to paper money in Europe, consequently pocket cases became the height of fashion. Decorative examples were compact and stylish with interior compartments to hold banknotes, allowing people to carry large sums of money easily and discreetly. They could also hold letters or small diaries.

V&A, Room 40, Bags: Inside Out.
Credit line
Given by G. Stanley Clarke, Esq.
Production
Most likely a convent work
Bibliographic references
  • Wood Murray, Anne. 'Straw embroidery on Costume', Waffen- und Kostümkunde - Zeitschrift der Gesellschaft für historische Waffen- und Kostümkunde. München: Deutsche Kunstverlag, 1978, pp. 95-106, ill
  • Bags V&A Exhibition (Project) Bags: Inside Out (2020) Lucia Savi, V&A Publishing, pg 70
Collection
Accession number
T.29-1915

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Record createdOctober 2, 2002
Record URL
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