Book of common prayer
Church of England
Category
Books
Date
1635
Materials
Silk satin, Silk thread, Linen, Wool, Silver gilt thread, Silver thead, Leather thong, Parchment, Paper, Silk ribbon, Glass beads
Place of origin
London
Collection
Lanhydrock, Cornwall
NT 3245167.1
Summary
Bibliographic description
[104] p. ;. 8vo. Bound with: "The Genealogies ..." (1635), "The Holy Bible: ..." (London, 1634) and "The vvhole book of Psalmes: ..." (London, 1636). Provenance: no marks of provenance. Binding: seventeenth-century cream silk satin over boards on four recessed alum-tawed thongs with parchment strips as spine supports. all over embroidered decoration, an early bookmark of plaited pink threads and a later batten covered in metallic threads with six silk ribbons attached (two each of red, white and blue), gilded edges, and the remains of two pairs of ties under the pastedowns. The decoration comprises: oval cartouches of metal threads (silver and gilt metal) on both covers with the remains of lion's heads at the top and bottom of each cartouche; the cartouches contain the figures of Esther holding a sceptre (front) and David with his harp and spear (back) worked in polychrome silk threads outlined in metal threads; the ground design within the cartouches had small 'dots' of metal purl thread, now virtually all lost.The corners of each cover are decorated with flowers; the spine has been divided into five sections using metal threads, each section contains the remains of a flower. The covers are padded with linen (thick linen threads and some underlying linen fabric) and wool. Due to light damage, the front cover especially has faded over time; the lions' heads have lost most of the beads for eyes (one remains). Extensive historic adhesive treatment and losses to embroidery. Fragile: in a purpose-built buckram box to minimise handling.
Makers and roles
Church of England