Lot Essay
A similar casket with mirrored and print-lined interior is in the collection of the Lady Lever Art Gallery, Port Sunlight (illustrated in X.Brooke, Catalogue of Embroideries, 1992, pp.179-181).
CIRCA 1660
Details
A CHARLES II STUMPWORK, BEADWORK AND SILK-EMBROIDERED CASKET
circa 1660
Rectangular, the hinged lid worked with a couple before a fountain and with castle in the distance, the hinged front with a fishing scene, the sides with pastoral scenes of hunting, milking cows and picking fruit, the back with geometric design, enclosing a silk-lined interior with mirror, removable compartments, the central compartment with hand-colored print depicting the Senses and Seasons and mounted with a freestanding silk bird, fitted with two glass bottles with pewter lids, all above three short over one long drawer, on later gadrooned giltwood feet, worked on a long stitch ground with purl and stumpwork, mica panels and beads, within silver gallon borders
8in. (20cm.) high, 11in. (28cm.) wide, 8in. (20cm.) deep
circa 1660
Rectangular, the hinged lid worked with a couple before a fountain and with castle in the distance, the hinged front with a fishing scene, the sides with pastoral scenes of hunting, milking cows and picking fruit, the back with geometric design, enclosing a silk-lined interior with mirror, removable compartments, the central compartment with hand-colored print depicting the Senses and Seasons and mounted with a freestanding silk bird, fitted with two glass bottles with pewter lids, all above three short over one long drawer, on later gadrooned giltwood feet, worked on a long stitch ground with purl and stumpwork, mica panels and beads, within silver gallon borders
8in. (20cm.) high, 11in. (28cm.) wide, 8in. (20cm.) deep
Provenance
A private collection, sold Christie's South Kensington, June 23 1987, lot 199
Literature
Country Life Annual, 1963, p. 47, pl. 5