Images(9)

Embroidered Cabinet

Date1650-1675

OriginEngland

MediumSilk threads on a silk ground, wood, metal, pewter, paper, glass, metallic braid, silk and paper lining

DimensionsOH: 10 1/4" x OW: 6" x OL: 9"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1953-108

DescriptionThis is a domed cabinet silk with a cream silk ground. It does not have an inscription of any sort. The lid shows a geometric flower pattern that resembles plaid, consisting of green, white, yellow, and pink threads. Attached is a carrying handle. All four sides of the domed section feature silks in couched and laid stitches in a variety of colors. These also resemble plaid. The front doors feature a cavalier and lady in contemporary dress. The man carries a staff and the woman holds a chalice. Both figures stand amongst nature and each are placed next to a large flower. The (viewer's) right side and left sides are nearly identical, consisting of couched and laid work that results in stylized floral designs of green, pink, white, blue, and yellow threads. The domed portion of each side features the same design, but the vertical portions of the lid and bottom of the domed section feature red, white, brown, and blue threads. The back continues the theme of couched and laid work. The lid portion has brown, tan, and cream couched and laid work. The domed portion shows a checked design of green, red, and white threads. The vertical part at the bottom of the domed portion consists of a stylized floral pattern in dark pink, light pink, cream, and light blue. The portion of the cabinet below this, the portion that makes up the body of the box, features yellow, blue, pink, green, and white threads.

The cabinet has doors that open in the front, as well as a lid that can be lifted. Lifting the lid reveals writing instruments and a pin cushion. On the left is a rectangular block of green velvet edged with metallic braid. This is a pin cushion. Next to it is two long, empty spaces, probably used to hold writing paper. Below are three square spaces, each filled with a glass perfume bottle with a pewter cap. Below this are two metal boxes, originally used for ink and sand. They flank a small, empty cavern lined with salmon-colored silk, which probably originally stored blotting paper. The pin cushion can be removed to reveal a secret box within it, and an empty compartment below. The small container within the pin cushion can be opened to reveal a long, narrow container lined with salmon-colored silk. At the back of it are two small pieces of wood covered in green velvet, originally used to store rings. A miniscule shell was found between the two pieces of green velvet, and is now encased in a small bag. The ink and sand structure can be removed to reveal an empty compartment, lined with simple gray paper. The bottom of the domed section can also be lifted to reveal a cavern lined with salmon-colored silk and a mirror on the interior of the lid.

Opening the doors reveals three rows of cabinets. The interior of the doors are covered in plain salmon-colored silk. The top row does not open. It has in its middle a keyhole that connects to the domed part of the lid. It is covered in couched and laid work, resulting in a geometric pattern of pink, red, navy, light blue, and yellow threads threaded horizontally and yellow and green threads stitched in vertical stripes. The second row features three drawers, each lined in metallic braid. They each have a small metal circular pull. The left-hand drawer features a geometric pattern with horizontal threads of mint, light pink, and dark pink, and vertical threads of cream, light blue, dark blue, and mustard. The middle drawer has a stylized floral pattern, with light pink, dark pink, white, and green threads woven horizontally and dark blue, light blue, mustard, and cream threads woven vertically. The middle drawer contains a key original to the cabinet. The right-hand drawer has a stylized floral pattern consisting of light pink, white, light purple, and green threads woven horizontally and the same dark blue, light blue, mustard, and cream threads woven vertically. It contains a small portion of what was likely the original metallic braid attached to the key. The bottom drawer also has a metal pull. It is a single drawer, short and long. Its exterior shows a red, pink, and white geometric square pattern that resembles plaid.

By removing the middle and right-hand drawers, one can find a secret compartment that can be pulled out. The compartment is narrow and long, lined with salmon-colored silk and covered with gray-purple paper. Its edges are covered in silver stamped paper. The drawers are all lined with salmon-colored silk and all are edged with stamped silver paper.

The cabinet maintains its four wooden feet and is edged with metal braid.

Stitches: couched, laid, satin
Label TextThis embroidered cabinet is an example of the embroidery that was popular in England in the second half of the seventeenth century. The cabinet was likely the final project in the needlework education of a schoolgirl, who was probably 11 or 12 years old when she embroidered the box. The lid, domed portion, and front doors lift or open to reveal cabinets, drawers, and secret compartments in which the casket's owner would have stored her most prized possessions such as gems, letters, jewelry, writing implements, and toiletries. The cabinet features a cavalier and lady on its front, while the rest of it is decorated with geometric patterns and stylized flowers made by laying threads across the ground fabric instead of making smaller, more regular stitches.
InscribedNone
MarkingsNone