Book Cover for the Holy Bible
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
c. 1700
This object is an embroidered English textile book cover created around 1700 for a Bible. The cover is worked across the front, spine, and back panels, showing a composition of flora and fauna against a dense, shimmering background. The covers feature reclining animals, including a spotted feline or leopard on one side and a stag on the other, set within lush landscapes alongside stylized flowers and strawberry sprigs. The spine is divided into compartments containing botanical and animal motifs, including a squirrel and a camel.
The ground fabric consists of plain weave linen. It is decorated with embroidery executed in silk floss and silk creped yarns, gilt- and silvered-metal-strip-wrapped silk, and gilt-metal purl. The needlework incorporates reverse tent, satin, and tent stitches, as well as couching and French knots. The overall dimensions are 15.6 × 9.6 × 4.7 cm (6 1/8 × 3 3/4 × 1 7/8 in.).
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Linen, plain weave; embroidered with silk floss and silk creped yarns, gilt- and silvered-metal-strip-wrapped silk, and gilt-metal purl in reverse tent, satin, and tent stitches; couching and French knots
- Dimensions
- 15.6 × 9.6 × 4.7 cm (6 1/8 × 3 3/4 × 1 7/8 in.)
Technical characteristics
- Maker recorded
- England
- Place recorded
- England
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Art Institute of Chicago collection record for this single object; how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Museum object name
- Book Cover for the Holy Bible
- Museum object number
- 1966.151
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.