Case

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

A lady might have carried or stored her personal letters in a folding case like this well-preserved example dating to the turn of the 19th century. The intricate embroidery and triple-fold construction sets this object apart from other similar objects in the Brooklyn Museum collection. The embroidered motifs, combined with the motto and the inclusion of the two women's names suggest that the case was a token of friendship given by one to the other, perhaps with the sentiment that letters between the two were also treasured keepsakes. The motifs themselves symbolize milestones of life the two might share in a lifelong friendship. With its embroidered motto and motifs representing imagery of friendship and affection, this case probably was given as a token of friendship. Very well preserved example of an accessory given as a token of friendship; imagery related to life circumstances that would be shared in a lifelong friendship

The Costume Institute

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Costume Institute's collection of more than thirty-three thousand objects represents seven centuries of fashionable dress and accessories for men, women, and children, from the fifteenth century to the present.

Metropolitan Museum of Art