Reticule18157 7/8 x 6 7/8 " (20 x 17.5 cm)Ink and cotton on cottonGift of Lillian and Jerry Grossman1984.3.201529661067Artist unidentifiedCostumeThe American Folk Art Museum believes this work to be in the public domain. Inscribed on back, sepia ink in trailing ribbons: Laura S. Comstockhttp://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster21479WorkbagWorkbagWorkbagUnited StatesNew HampshireTextilesObject information is a work in progress and may be updated with new research. Records are reviewed and revised, and the American Folk Art Museum welcomes additional information.
To help improve this record, please email photoservices@folkartmuseum.orgTEXTILESSusan Swann (Winterthur Museum) feels this place is a reticule and apparently Winterthur has a similar pair, as does the New Hampshire Historical Society. A reticule is a type of small drawstring bag which became popular at the end of the 18th century, when the silhouette of fashions had become more fitted and slender and the larger pockets were no longer suited to these new fashions. This piece may have been made in a girl's school and given to a classmate as a present. The type of verse and decoration is consistent with the romanticism and sentimentality of the period and the images may have been copied from one of the many prints of romantic landscapes prevalent in school exercises. These inscribed reticules were often exchanged as tokens of friendship with the verses inscribed to a particular friend. The image of the birds and urn is also seen on friendship pins of this era. Many examples of these bags have a New Hampshire history, suggesting that there may have been a regional preference for this type of reticule.(including construction) Drawstring reticule constructed of two rectangles of fine cotton with verses in cursive hand and pictorial vignettes drawn in sepia ink, front and back. Front with poem entitled "Charity" romantic landscape below with castle on left in foliage with arched footbridge over winding water, house on right in grassy plot, two people fishing on bank in foreground. Bordered three sides with twining floral design. Handstitched seams and hemmed top with drawstring cord. Reverse with poem entitled "Friendship" above, vignette below with two doves turned towards each other with trailing ends of ribbons held in beaks. B ribbon inscribed "Laura S." T ribbon inscribed "Comstock." Crossed branches below, possibly roses and olive branch.http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster21479WorkbagWorkbagWorkbagWorkbaghttp://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster21479http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster2147918151815 1984 3 2 Object information is a work in progress and may be updated with new research. Records are reviewed and revised, and the American Folk Art Museum welcomes additional information.
To help improve this record, please email photoservices@folkartmuseum.orgTEXTILESSusan Swann (Winterthur Museum) feels this place is a reticule and apparently Winterthur has a similar pair, as does the New Hampshire Historical Society. A reticule is a type of small drawstring bag which became popular at the end of the 18th century, when the silhouette of fashions had become more fitted and slender and the larger pockets were no longer suited to these new fashions. This piece may have been made in a girl's school and given to a classmate as a present. The type of verse and decoration is consistent with the romanticism and sentimentality of the period and the images may have been copied from one of the many prints of romantic landscapes prevalent in school exercises. These inscribed reticules were often exchanged as tokens of friendship with the verses inscribed to a particular friend. The image of the birds and urn is also seen on friendship pins of this era. Many examples of these bags have a New Hampshire history, suggesting that there may have been a regional preference for this type of reticule.(including construction) Drawstring reticule constructed of two rectangles of fine cotton with verses in cursive hand and pictorial vignettes drawn in sepia ink, front and back. Front with poem entitled "Charity" romantic landscape below with castle on left in foliage with arched footbridge over winding water, house on right in grassy plot, two people fishing on bank in foreground. Bordered three sides with twining floral design. Handstitched seams and hemmed top with drawstring cord. Reverse with poem entitled "Friendship" above, vignette below with two doves turned towards each other with trailing ends of ribbons held in beaks. B ribbon inscribed "Laura S." T ribbon inscribed "Comstock." Crossed branches below, possibly roses and olive branch.