Object corner

This casket dates from 1650 to 1670 and is probably the work of a 12 to 14 year old girl. We do not know who actually made it, but it belonged to a North Warwickshire family for many years.

The casket is made of wood, covered with embroidered, ivory silk-satin panels. Green paper leaves have been applied, as well as silk-wrapped metal and silver coloured threads.

On the outside, there are geometric designs and stylised fruit and flowers.

On the two doors at the front are male and female figures, dressed in clothes of the mid seventeenth century. These people could be the parents of the girl who did the work, although we will never know!

The doors open to reveal small drawers, and even a ‘secret’ compartment, where rings and coins could be kept.

The cabinet is decorated on the inside too. The doors show floral designs which are decorated with silk wrapped thread and gold-coloured sequins.

In the seventeenth century, needlework was an important part of every young girl’s education. They began to learn when very small, first studying simple stitches and techniques. They would then move on to more complicated skills as they grew older.

The result of hours of practice was often a beautiful and impressive piece of work such as the casket seen here. Other pieces of work could include pictures, mirror frames or book-bindings.

However, the girls did not usually design the patterns and pictures seen on such work. Just as today, needlework ‘kits’ could be bought. These would contain all the sewing materials and designs to produce the embroidery. This means that many pictures look similar, with common themes of biblical and classical stories.

Once the embroidery panels were completed, they would be sent away to be made into an object such as the casket seen here.