Embroidered Box

Raised work (stumpwork) casket depicting the story of Queen Esther and King Ahasuerus; Initialed 'BP' and dated 1662, worked in polychrome silk and metallic threads on white satin and decorated with seed pearls, English; Front King Ahasuerus presenting the royal scepter to Queen Esther; Back The hanging of Haman; Right side the search for a wife for King Ahasuerus; Left side Mordecai honored by Ahasuerus and paraded in royal regalia; Top King Ahasuerus, Queen Esther and Haman at dinner; The casket with two doors opening to reveal curious set of drawers with secret compartments; the top lifting to reveal a pink velvet interior fitted with two bottles, an inkpot and a pen tray, the back of this lid with brackets for a mirror that now is missing; a second lid at the top opening to reveal a shallow silk-lined tray. A 17th century oak box lined in marbled paper with replaced lock accompanies the casket (95.14cc Traveling Case for Stumpwork Casket); an itemized list of pieces and their dimensions is in the object file in the registration office. Surface ornamentation (Needlework)