This vibrant crewel pocketbook was made for Benjamin
Stuart of Boston and is dated 1753. It is held in the collections of the
Massachusetts Historical Society (http://www.masshist.org).
The pocketbook features a brightly hued pastoral view with vining flowers, bird,
and goats. Several large blossoms catch the eye. The wool thread is worked on
linen, and features a dazzling interior, lined with silk. The wool threads have
remained vivid, as has the yellow-gold silk lining (the silk is possibly from
China.)
While the owner is known, the maker is anonymous. Items
such as this were often made by young women for their fathers, beloveds, or for
themselves. As noted by MHS Curator, Anne Bentley, the large size of the
pocketbook was fashioned to accommodate old tenor currency.
