Needlework Box, 1712
Signed "MB"
Probably London, England
Linen ground, linen, silk, and silver
thread, shells, wooden box with glass
Lent by John H. Bryan

Schoolgirls from prosperous English families were expected to master the art of sewing. The three-dimensional work mounted inside this box probably marked the pinnacle of a girl’s education. This example is dated "1712" on the vase and is signed "MB" on either side. While the large flowers, wrapped-wire deer, and other decoration appeared frequently in needlework from this era, the tiny Chinese porcelain vases in the foreground make this box highly unusual. Like the exotic shells and natural debris installed inside the box, the porcelain vases were curious foreign objects worthy of commemoration in this miniature "cabinet of curiosities."