Fine Gold Mounted Tortoiseshell and Floral Picque Worked Book Cover

A Fine Gold Mounted Tortoiseshell and Floral Picque Worked Book Cover
Containing a Book of Common Prayer printed in London in 1827 with engravings published by N Hailes, Picadilly January 1, 1822
Early 19th Century
Size: 11.5cm high, 7cm wide – 4½ ins high, 2¾ ins wide
Dating from 16th century Naples the craft of picque work was very popular during the English Regency period. It was produced by heating the shell of the hawksbill turtle over smokeless charcoal, cutting it to shape, dotting it with a design and with a tiny drill working minute holes into the surface and inserting equally miniscule rods of pure gold into the hot shell. When the shell cooled and contracted it kept both its shape and gripped the gold pinpricks in place.
Made for a Regency lady to take with her to Church, this Book of Common Prayer was the official service book of the Church of England and the major prayer book of the Anglican Church. It also contains the Psalter, a book of psalms in a form for use in devotion or worship which should be said or sung each week, an observance still followed by many religious orders.

Fine Gold Mounted Tortoiseshell and Floral Picque Worked Book Cover

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ENQUIRIES

+44 (0)7768 236921
+44 (0)7836 684133

enquiries@finch-and-co.co.uk