An Embroidered Needlework "Housewife" or Sewing Case

Dated, "1837"

with six embroidered pockets on printed cotton backing, trimmed with red tape, with extra tape at top of purse to tie rolled purse together, pocket designs executed in counted cross stitch, from top: parrot on tree branch,
floral urn flanked by two birds, floral urn flanked by two birds and two shepherds with dogs, a floral urn surmounted by diamond and flanked by two ladies, a house with walled garden, flanked by two birds, and a tree flanked by two birds and surmounted by date, "1837", and with initials, "M.W.", below.

19 3/4 x 4 1/4 inches.

Property of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the State of Illinois

This lot is located in Philadelphia.

Provenance:

Purchased from Stephan E. White, Marcellus, New York, 1986 (accession no. 1986.19),

The NSCDA-IL Collection at Clarke-Ford House (CFH).

Note:

The Clarke-Ford House, a Greek Revival home built in 1836 for Henry B. Clarke and Caroline Palmer Clarke, is considered Chicago's oldest surviving house. The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Illinois has partnered with the Clarke-Ford House since 1978. The period-appropriate items assembled for this home were on display there until recently and have since been deaccessioned after a reinterpretation of the site.