Pocket book
Object name
Date made
Circa 1780-1800
Place made
Description
Circa 1780-1800 cream satin pocket book with two pockets, overall quilting, and a painted floral motif.
Content description
Circa 1780-1800 cream satin pocket book with two flapped pockets on the inside and overall quilting. The pocket book is quilted in a diamond pattern, worked in cream silk back stitches. A floral motif is painted onto the silk ground as both a border and a central design on the front and back of both pockets, all four elements featuring pink flowers and green leaves and outlined in chain stitched metallic thread. The outside edges and inner pockets are bordered with a twisted and couched metallic thread.
One of the inside sides features a small lock plate. The top of the lock is attached to a scalloped flap, which is decorated with a similar painted pink flower motif and outlined in metallic thread chain stitch. A small original key is attached to the centre fold with a length of silk ribbon.
Pocket books were carried by both men and women in the 18th and early 19th centuries, tucked away in a man’s coat pocket or the pockets women wore under their skirts. These pocket books held precious objects such as paper money, letters, important documents, and sewing supplies. In the United States the vast majority of pocket books were adorned in flame stitch designs worked in wool threads, whereas in Europe designs tended to be more floral and worked in silk threads. It is believed that six pocket books from this period were given to the RSN by Mary of Teck, Queen of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India. This is one of that group.
One of the inside sides features a small lock plate. The top of the lock is attached to a scalloped flap, which is decorated with a similar painted pink flower motif and outlined in metallic thread chain stitch. A small original key is attached to the centre fold with a length of silk ribbon.
Pocket books were carried by both men and women in the 18th and early 19th centuries, tucked away in a man’s coat pocket or the pockets women wore under their skirts. These pocket books held precious objects such as paper money, letters, important documents, and sewing supplies. In the United States the vast majority of pocket books were adorned in flame stitch designs worked in wool threads, whereas in Europe designs tended to be more floral and worked in silk threads. It is believed that six pocket books from this period were given to the RSN by Mary of Teck, Queen of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India. This is one of that group.
Dimensions
width: 15cm
length: 19cm
length: 19cm
Materials
Stitches
Techniques
Motifs
Credit line
Possible gift of Her Majesty Queen Mary.
Catalogue number
RSN.32.c
© Royal School of Needlework