History's Runway: The Lee Embroidered Purse, 1700-30

 

Pochette of polychrome silk and metallic wire embroidery.
Italy, 1700-1730
The Victoria & Albert Museum

In the Eighteenth Century, purses became a medium for showcasing exceptional embroidery with silks, metal thread and wire which remains unsurpassed to this day.  Here’s a great example of that splendid work.

This little early 18th century pochette (pocket book) is constructed of white satin which has been  embroidered with polychrome silks, and silver-gilt wire.  It is adorned with a braid in satin stitch and French knots.  The front flap sports two exceptional tasseled strings of silver-gilt thread.

The front features a formal design of flowers on scrolling stems while the reverse depicts a shield of arms with a horizontal bar and three crescents on a field adorned with stars surrounded by a floral border.

The purse was made in Italy between 1700 and 1730.