Embroidered letter case [realia].

Accession number: 
PML 152641
Published: 
[Early 18th century]
Description: 
1 item : embroidered silk cloth ; 11.5 (h) x 18 cm
Credit: 
Bequest of Julia P. Wightman, 1994.
Notes: 

With bookseller's letter and description laid in, dated June 17, 1959.

Binding: 
Housed in a glass casing which is inside a red cloth box case, with a red morocco spine gilt tooled by Julia P. Wightman 1961.
Provenance: 
From the library of Julia P. Wightman.
Summary: 

French embroidered purse called a portefeuille or letter case from the early 18th century. Red, blue, yellow & green floral patterns sewn on white silk which opens up in accordion fashion to a wallet with 2 white silk ribbons (32 cm each) inside to hold letters. A number of similar letter cases are illustrated in the Seligman & Hughes book on Domestic needlework.

Classification: 
Department: