{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O316081"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O316081/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2011FA5023/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2011FA5023/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2011FA5023","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011FA5008","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KB3844","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O316081/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O316081","accessionNumber":"308:1-1880","objectType":"Embroidered casket","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b>\r\nCaskets were made and used by girls in the 17th century. The girls would decorate small panels with embroidery which would then be sent to a cabinet-maker to be made up into a casket. They were often fitted with compartments for sewing and writing as well as a small mirror. Many cabinets also had secret compartments, used to store personal possessions such as jewellery or letters. The high cost of the materials, as well as the skill needed to create these caskets, means they could only have been made in wealthy households.\n\r\n<b>People</b>\r\nThe panels were worked by young girls, aged around 11 or 12, as part of their education. Girls started learning needlework skills aged 6 or 7, first creating a band sampler (see T.433-1990) and then moving on to more complex pieces such as cutwork. Embroidering the panels of a casket or for a mirror (see T.17-1955) appears to have been one of the last stages of a girl’s needlework education. These skills would be useful later in life in the management of a household.\n\r\n<b>Materials & Designs</b>\r\nBiblical, mythological and classical scenes were all popular themes for decorating caskets. While some girls may have designs their own panels, taking inspiration from sources such as illustrated bibles, it also appears to have been possible to have purchased designs, which the embroiderer could then customise by using certain colours or adding in features. \r\n","physicalDescription":"Embroidered Casket\r\n\r\n<b>Decoration & Design</b>\r\nThe top depicts Jacob asleep under a tree, on the left we can see his dream of the ladder and angels. The sides of the lid are split into rectangular sections each with a stylised motifs including fruit, rabbits and flowers. The side panels all depict different scenes, on the front is a hunter with a spear and horn and two dogs chasing a stag. On the left panel is the meeting of Laban and Jacob, on the back is Jacob and Rachel at the well and on the right is Laban (?) seated before a tent, Jacob kneeling and Rachel (?) standing on the right. \n\nThe compartments are lined with pink silk but the edges, as well as a front of the interior and the mirror surround are painted and stamped. \n\n<b>Construction</b>\nThe box is opened by lifting the lid, which hinges upwards, the front opens by hinging downwards. The interior lid has space for a mirror, and the main body is fit with multiple compartments, including letter slots and ink and sand wells. Within this compartment there are multiple hidden compartments. There is also a drawer which goes the full length of the base of the box. The casket is missing feet.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"linen","id":"x29412"},{"text":"silk thread","id":"x30127"},{"text":"","id":""}],"techniques":[{"text":"embroidery","id":"x40351"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Linen panels worked with silk and metal thread in long and short, split and satin stitches. ","categories":[{"text":"Embroidery","id":"THES48960"},{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"},{"text":"Containers","id":"THES48972"},{"text":"Woodwork","id":"THES48877"},{"text":"Household objects","id":"THES48939"},{"text":"Hunting","id":"THES253059"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2011FA5023","2011FA5008","2017KB3844"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES306490"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES306490"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES306490"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES306490"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES306490"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES306490"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES306490"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES306490"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES306490"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES306490"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Casket","id":""}],[{"text":"Tray","id":""}],[{"text":"Ink pot","id":""}],[{"text":"Box","id":""}],[{"text":"Drawer","id":""}],[{"text":"Bottle","id":""}],[{"text":"Bottle","id":""}],[{"text":"Lid","id":""}],[{"text":"Drawer","id":""}],[{"text":"Sachet","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1640","earliest":"1635-01-01","latest":"1644-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Width","value":"240","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"175","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"300","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Bought as part of the Robinson Collection in 1879","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Embroidered casket, top depicts Jacob's Ladder, linen worked with silk, c.1640","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Nevinson, J., Catalogue of Domestic English Embroidery of the Sixteenth & Seventeenth Centuries (London,1950)."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Jacob","id":"N603"},{"text":"Laban","id":"N12786"},{"text":"Rachel","id":"N14849"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"hunt","id":"x47500"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["308:1-1880","308:2-1880","308:3-1880","308:4-1880","308:5-1880","308:6-1880","308:7-1880","308:8-1880","308:9-1880","308:10-1880"],"accessionNumberNum":"308","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1880,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Casket","Tray","Ink pot","Box","Drawer [1]","Bottle [1]","Bottle [2]","Lid","Drawer [2]","Sachet"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-01","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}