box, needlework
Object
Accession Number
2008.005.026a-eDescription
a. A rectangular shaped rosewood needlework box. The top of the lid has an inlaid mother of pearl medallion and mother of pearl escutcheon. The inside of the lid has a fold-out storage envelope lined in white puckered silk that drops down as a storage envelope in the lid. The box and lid is lined with silver. The interior has a tray (b.) that sits into the frame of the box. It has a purple satin pin cushion and three purple satin lidded compartments, two of which have mother-of-pearl button knobs. The centre compartment lid is fitted with loops for holding five needlework tools. The front of the tray has six open, silver lined compartments.Narrative
Victorian needlework boxes were typically large enough to hold a small stitching project and a large variety of tools. Needlework was often done as a part of social gatherings and a woman might bring a work box along to visit a friend or work in her parlour while receiving guests. This demanded a practical way to transport one’s work while also providing an excellent opportunity to show off fine or novel tools and work boxes. While simple repurposed storage boxes and baskets were used as practical containers, highly detailed and ornate cases with specialized compartments for matching sets of tools were most popular amongst the upper and middle classes. Made of fine materials such as ivory, mother-of-pearl, tortoise shell, and silver, they served as a symbol of status and wealth.
The tools originally sold with these boxes were often lost or broken over their lives and replaced as needed. The tools in this box when it was acquired were: silver scissors, a mother of pearl handled hook, a mother of pearl handled punch, a mother of pearl handled threader and a stiletto. It is likely that some of these are replacements.
The interior of a work box was considered a private space. They might be used to store private letters, photographs, jewellery, or money and were sometimes designed with special compartments for this purpose. The folder in the lid of this box may have been designed for this purpose.
