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Mirror frame
English
17th century
Medium/Technique
Silk; embroidery, stump work
Dimensions
57 x 55 cm (22 7/16 x 21 5/8 in.); Legacy dimension: .55 x .57
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Philip L. Saltonstall
Accession Number13.384
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope, Fashion and Textiles
ClassificationsTextiles
DescriptionStump work. White satin ground. On the upper part of the frame is embroidered with colored silk and wire, a house, flowers, trees, the sun and birds. On each side of the frame is a canopy. Under one stands a king, under the other a queen. The crowns and the top of the queen's dress are trimmed with seed pearls. Feathers were sewed on to the queen's cloak to represent ermine. At the bottom of the frame are two trees; under one is a deer, under the other a lion. In the middle is a mermaid rising from the sea. Trimmed with gold lace. This mirror was given in a leather case. On the back of the mirror was pasted a piece of paper with the following inscription: This mirror was handed down seven generations since it was brought to N.E. in its quaint leather case, lined with pink silk, in 1633 by "Leverett", the father of J. L. Gov. of Mass. from 1671 to 78, the time of his death. There is a family tradition that the curious embroidered satin was wrought by "Mary, Queen of Scots". It is similar to one done by her in the Cluny Museum in Paris. This piece had traces of moths and buffalo bugs when given to the Museum.
ProvenancePossibly Thomas Leverett; by inheritance to his son John Leverett (b. about 1616 - d. 1678/9); by descent through the family to Mrs. Philip L. Saltonstall; 1913, gift of Saltonstall to the MFA. (Accession Date: February 6, 1913)
NOTES:
[1] On the back of the mirror was pasted a piece of paper with the following inscription: This mirror was handed down seven generations since it was brought to N.E. in its quaint leather case, lined with pink silk, in 1633 by "Leverett", the father of J. L. Gov. of Mass. from 1671 to 78, the time of his death. There is a family tradition that the curious embroidered satin was wrought by "Mary, Queen of Scots". It is similar to one done by her in the Cluny Museum in Paris.
NOTES:
[1] On the back of the mirror was pasted a piece of paper with the following inscription: This mirror was handed down seven generations since it was brought to N.E. in its quaint leather case, lined with pink silk, in 1633 by "Leverett", the father of J. L. Gov. of Mass. from 1671 to 78, the time of his death. There is a family tradition that the curious embroidered satin was wrought by "Mary, Queen of Scots". It is similar to one done by her in the Cluny Museum in Paris.