Images(6)

Pocketbook

Date1771

OriginAmerica

MediumWool embroidery; Linen canvas; wool/worsted lining.

DimensionsH. 4 1/8"; W. 7 1/4".

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1950-263

DescriptionPocketbook envelope shaped; Irish stitch embroidery; green background with medallins enclosing pink and yellow flowers; binding and tie-strings of greenish brown woolen tape; lining of glazed olive wool.

Construction History:

1. 1771: Initial Construction
2. January 15, 1954: Repairs by Ernest LoNano for Margaret Hunter Shop
Label TextStitched in Time:
Needlework pocketbooks, common accessories in the mid-18th century, were owned by both men and women. Like wallets today, they were used to store money and papers. Personalization in the form of initials, owners' names, and the names of makers are frequently noted in lost and found notices for pocketbooks.

While some pocketbooks were made of leather or silk, many were worked. Irish stitch, sometimes modernly called flame stitch, was the favored method of decoration. The stitch is characterized by zig-zag slopes and vibrant use of color. In the 18th century, Irish stitch was popular for accessories, like pocketbooks and shoes, as well as upholstery.
Markings"I.L." in embroidery under flap.
ProvenanceAvis and Rockwell Gardiner (Stamford, CT); 1950-present, purchased by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Williamsburg, VA)