French brown leather sewing case, circa 1890-1910.

File — Box: 3

Identifier: Sewing cases - 3 (II.A.3.)

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The Gay Ann Rogers Collection contains items related to various types of needlework, sewing, and textiles. These materials range in time frame from the 17th through 21st centuries. It includes needlework boxes and cases, needles and related tools, embroidery scissors, tape measures, pincushions, various types of thread containers, darners, antique baby gowns, lacemaking, knitting, and crochet tools, among many other related objects. It also contains many items in five types of Scottish Mauchline ware (transfer ware, tartan ware, fern ware, lacquer ware, and photographic ware) and various textiles created by Gay Ann Rogers herself, as well as some Jane Austen-related memorabilia she collected. Of note are Ellen Browning Scripps' own sewing case, novelty shaped thimbles, and the intricate spool holders.

Dates

Creation: circa 1890-1910.

Conditions Governing Access

Collection open for research.

Extent

From the Series: 1 box

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Physical Description

19.5 centimeters.

Notes

French. Originally belonged to Ellen Browning Scripps. Has silver gilt tools with French silver marks; thread winders are also marked 'Sterling, France' indicating set was made for export to U.S.; case is larger than most of French small sewing cases and is shaped more like Palais Royal box; it reflects aesthetics of dawning Edwardian age when there was new interest in 18th and early 19th century decorative arts; case has usual five necessary stitching tools but it copies from Palais Royal box placement of pincushion in top center of case (only now with pins beneath it) and placement of silk winders on either side of pincushion and below them to left and right two reels; each is placed in recessed compartment as was done in the Palais Royal box; in age when spools of threads were available almost everywhere, these winders and reels may have been intended as charming anachronisms or for delicate embroidery silks.