English Needlework Sewing Casket Circa 1624 Depicting The Judgment Of Paris

A circa 1624 English needlework casket depicting scenes from the life of Venus worked in colored silks. The top depicting the judgment of Paris, the front, back and sides with Venus and Adonis. The interior is fitted with various compartments, drawers, some hidden, a pair of original mercury glass bottles, a writing tray with ink and pounce pots. The inside is lined in salmon pink silk, marbled paper and colored prints including the sacrifice of Isaac and the wise and foolish virgins on the inside door. The inside lid is outfitted with the original mercury mirror. The outside is bound with silver metal braid, original white metal escutcheon with key, hinges and original gold leaf feet.

Allegorical and biblical subjects, along with portraits of monarchs, were the most common themes for the decoration of a seventeenth-century box.  The majority show biblical scenes, although these are sometimes combined with depictions of the Senses or the Seasons. Typically young girls of 12 years of age and of wealth stitched the scenes for the box…imagine!

Condition: Good condition for something that’s almost 500 years old. Wear to the outside silver metallic tape around bottom box, tiny moth bites to stitching areas as seen. Inside the mercury/lead glass has flaked, general wear to the salmon silk inside, quite typical of age. Overall a fabulous piece of history.