Terms and conditions of use
Writing box
(c. 1665)
- Medium
- wood, silk (thread), velvet, metallic thread, mirror, glass, silk, pewter, paper, lead, hand-coloured engraving, seed pearls, mica, gilt-brass, leather, cotton, brass, (other materials)
- Measurements
- (a-p) 36.6 × 66.0 × 37.2 cm (overall)
- Place/s of Execution
- England
- Inscription
- none
- Accession Number
- D87.a-p-1972
- Department
- International Fashion and Textiles
- Credit Line
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, 1972
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Professor AGL Shaw AO Bequest - Gallery location
- Not on display
- About this work
-
Among the most complex of seventeenth-century embroidered objects were caskets, designed to hold precious objects such as jewellery, writing equipment, cosmetics and keepsakes. Decorated with a range of entertaining and instructive biblical stories, the main image on this casket’s lid, Rebecca offering water to Eliezer, is derived from an engraving by Marten de Vos published in 1585. The tale of Rebecca focuses on her act of kindness and compassion which made her a desirable wife. In creating embroidery illustrating this tale, a woman simultaneously imbibed and demonstrated contemporary ideals of femininity.