This small bible is covered in silk and intricate embroidery. Brightly coloured plants, birds and other animals have been carefully sewn using a mixture of silk and silver thread. It might be an allusion to the Garden of Eden, reflecting the religious text inside. This embroidered cover to the bible is especially high quality, and could be the work of a middling woman or a professional embroiderer. Women were encouraged to occupy themselves with the needle by creating embroidered items such as book covers, clothing and cushions, especially when they had servants who were able to undertake domestic labour for them. Many of the surviving examples are extremely accomplished.<br /> <br /> This pocket bible reflects the sort of personal item that a middling woman might carry with her as a display of her piety and skill. Wealthy members of the middling sort could also buy embroidery pieces made in commercial workshops rather than at home to showcase their wealth, status and taste.
Embroidered Bible (Prayer Book, New Testament), 1629

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Embroidered Bible

Embroidered Bible (Prayer Book, New Testament), 1629

This small bible is covered in silk and intricate embroidery. Brightly coloured plants, birds and other animals have been carefully sewn using a mixture of silk and silver thread. It might be an allusion to the Garden of Eden, reflecting the religious text inside. This embroidered cover to the bible is especially high quality, and could be the work of a middling woman or a professional embroiderer. Women were encouraged to occupy themselves with the needle by creating embroidered items such as book covers, clothing and cushions, especially when they had servants who were able to undertake domestic labour for them. Many of the surviving examples are extremely accomplished.

This pocket bible reflects the sort of personal item that a middling woman might carry with her as a display of her piety and skill. Wealthy members of the middling sort could also buy embroidery pieces made in commercial workshops rather than at home to showcase their wealth, status and taste.

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Object Type Prayer Book, New Testament
Year 1629
Material Leather, silk and silver embroidery
Owned By SBT SR - 98
Keywords looking; owning; reading; making; display; belief; piety; leisure; gender; craftsmanship; print; textiles; book
Image Credit Embroidered Bible, SBT SR – 98. CC-BY-NC-ND; Image Courtesy of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

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