Early Seventeenth Century English Book Cover

Embroidered book cover, England, c. 1634. Embroidered book cover, England, c. 1634. Copyright Victoria and Albert Museum, London, acc. no. T.6-1988.

The Victoria and Albert Museum, London, has in its collection a book cover made in England, which dates to about 1634 and measures 17.8 x 12.1 x 6.5 cm. It is made of board covered with satin and embroidered with silver and silver gilt threads, with purl and coil, and with coloured silks and plaited threads.

This binding has an elaborate strapwork design. The Fountain of Life is represented in the central cartouche, and there are smaller representations of the four Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

The cover was designed for the Book of Common Prayer. According to curatorial information, it was almost certainly made by a member of the Broderers' Company, which had received its charter in 1561.

V&A online catalogue (retrieved 5 October 2016).

WV

Last modified on Monday, 20 March 2017 12:40
Published in Book covers and book cushions
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