Wallet
1748 (dated)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The pocket gave its name to other portable accessories such as the pocket book or pocket case. These were often made in silk, and beautifully embroidered with silk or silk ribbon and metal threads. Some had silver-gilt fringes, strings and tassels, others were signed and dated. Letter cases were sometimes brought back as souvenirs by travellers or given as gifts by foreign envoys. This example is dated 1748 and embroidered CONSTANTINOPLE.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Embroidered silk with silk and metal threads, card and lined with silk |
| Brief description | Wallet embroidered with silks and metal threads, Istanbul, dated 1748 |
| Physical description | Wallet or letter case embroidered with silks and metal threads on green silk. Three layers and a lining (which may have been replaced at a later date with purple silk). Layer of white card stiffening, a layer of green silk tabby and a top layer of embroidered green satin. It has been folded twice to form a front and back panel and a flap. There are French knots and three types of metal thread: Strip, wire and purl. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'Constantinople / 1748' (Embroidered) |
| Object history | Purchased. Registered File number 1992/826. Without seeing the reverse it is not possible to be absolutely certain which stitches are used. It seems to be satin stitch and variations of satin stitch, but may be double darned instead. The drawing was done with ink, the silk was embroidered first and then the metal threads. |
| Historical context | There is a similar wallet dated 1749 in the collection at Colonial Williamsburg. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | The pocket gave its name to other portable accessories such as the pocket book or pocket case. These were often made in silk, and beautifully embroidered with silk or silk ribbon and metal threads. Some had silver-gilt fringes, strings and tassels, others were signed and dated. Letter cases were sometimes brought back as souvenirs by travellers or given as gifts by foreign envoys. This example is dated 1748 and embroidered CONSTANTINOPLE. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.115-1992 |
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| Record created | February 25, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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