$3,000
Sold
sold

Click image to enlarge
Description
12" (30 cm.) x 12" cabinet. 11" x 8" cards. A heavy stock cabinet with original mahogany-paper cover, lift-off lid, and interior shelving is filled with 21 heavy stock cards of needlework samples, one of the cards with small attached paper label having ink script name Emma Crepy "(last name uncertain)". Each card has beautifully-embossed paper cover in various colors and gilt paper edging, and many have original lace-edged paper label with lettered name of the object or technique shown such as "Chemise de femme", "Broderie au point natte", and "Filet guipure". Included are more than 100 needlework samples, including some doll-sized clothing items, woven stocking-shaped coin purse with silver frame, woven stocking, samples of embroidery and mending, and much more. The cabinet and cards are perfectly preserved. French, mid-1800s, the preparation of such a cabinet of needlework was considered a necessity of well-brought up young girls in society, this nimble handwork, in most situations, was thought to be a proper substitute for the scholarly education being received by their brothers. Few extant examples of the cabinets remain, this with outstanding needlework, a variety of objects and techniques, and an intriguing paper clue of "Emma...".