There is a Victorian calling inside printed Miss Sarah C Hill. On the reverse it states Made for Mrs Lydia Swain Wood by her daughter Mary Hood about 1790. Mary Hood was my great grandmother Steele (Warner first). The reticule has the initials W .... embroidered, so surely the owner's first name started with a W . which does not tie up with the card. I am afraid there is no other provenance.
Embroidered in twisted silks with stylised flowers on tendrils in shades crimson, peach, terracotta, yellow, green, blue green, ivory worked on a putty coloured wool facecloth ground, one side in brighter colours than the other, edged and lined with in pale mauve, padded with card, the interior with two seperate pockets, 4 1/ 2 x 5in / 11 x 13 cm.
As you will see the flap and back is embroidered in brighter shades and the front. This is not due to fading. The young woman probably ran out of silks. The mauve silk is discoloured, probably due to the mordant in the dye. The end of the ribbon is quite frayed. The wool has one very small slight wear hole. Photos available.
All images and text © meg-andrews.com 2021
