Description:
1620 edition of the King James Bible featuring an elaborate silk and metallic thread- embroidered cover. This early bible is a rare example of decoratively embroidered book cover from the early 17th century. The design consists of a nearly identical front and back cover image of a central flower motif within a roundel bordeed on the top and bottom by a bold strapwork design with infill spot motifs, all enclosed within a rectangular border. Only the central floral motifs slightly differ on the front and back covers (they are mirror images). Polychrome silk embroidery survives, including blue and white lines suggesting sunrays (blue in the four corners, white above and below the floral motif). Other colors (greens, yellows, reds/oranges) make up the flower motifs, which are highlighted by metallic thread. The spine of the book cover is made up of three segemented motifs; an identical, stylized flower on the top and bottom and in the center, a four-lobed shape possibly suggesting a starburst or ray of divine sunlight. A proportionately large amount of metallic thread embroidery survives, consisting of silver wrapped around a white silk core thread that is often couched into place. A few silver-gilt spangles survive and there is loss to the embroidery overall. The cover itself is made from pasteboard covered with off-white, satin-weave silk. The relatively straightforward composition of the embroidery suggests it was done by a schoolgirl or woman, possibly from a professional pattern or one copied. The bible secured with four pink silk ribbons (now brittle and faded), two on the front cover and two on the back. Each of the ribbons pierces the cover at their point of attachement.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2022.7 |
