Book cover and book mark
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. 1634
This object comprises an embroidered bookbinding made for 'The Book of Common Prayer', accompanied by a bookmark. Dated to around 1634, it was produced in London, England, likely by a member of the Broderers' Company.
The construction consists of satin-covered board decorated with embroidery in silver thread, silver-gilt thread, purl, coil, plaited threads, and coloured silk threads. The cover displays an elaborate strapwork design. At its centre, an oval cartouche features an architectural depiction of the Fountain of Life. This central motif is surrounded by four smaller oval compartments containing pictorial representations of the four Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. A braided or plaited cord serves as the accompanying bookmark.
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.
Historical context
Embroidery was frequently employed in 16th- and early 17th-century England for the bindings of religious volumes and presentation copies. While some embroidered covers were made by skilled amateurs, the use of difficult materials such as metal thread, strip, and purl typically points to professional manufacture. Professional embroidery in London was organized and regulated by the Broderers' Company, which had received its royal charter in 1561.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Satin covered board, embroidered with silver, silver-gilt-thread, purl and coil, and coloured silks, and plaited threads
Technical characteristics
- Maker recorded
- Broderers Company
- Place recorded
- London
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Victoria and Albert Museum collection record for this single object; how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Museum object name
- Book cover and book mark
- Museum object number
- T.6-1988
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.