Canvaswork purse or pocketbook

Canvaswork purse or pocketbook

A canvaswork purse or pocketbook with pink tabby woven glazed wool lining and an engraved silver clasp. The purse is made with two tight and one broad interior pocket that permits the piece to open 4". All of the pockets extend the full width of the piece. All edges are bound with a red wool tape woven in a chevron pattern (reverse twill). The face of the pocketbook is unbleached linen, completely embroidered in wool in cross-stitch except for the initials "M.G." and year "1755" that are worked in queen stitch at the upper edge below the flap. The design is a stylized rose in the center with three carnations, leaves of various sizes, and smaller flowers, all outlined in black (the black thread is either silk or linen). The leaves are worked in four shades of green with the flowers in shades from pale pink to deep red with accents of yellow or blue. The background is three colors: lavender, purple, and deep blue. A scrap of light green pattern-woven silk is inside the purse.

width: 7 1/2in
height: 4 1/8in

Wool
Linen (material)
Silk (textile)
Silver (metal)

Mary Gardner

1755

Swansea (Massachusetts)