Mosaic Patchwork Huswife
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- Maker:
- Sarah Iles
- Date:
- 1856
Mosaic patchwork huswife made from printed and plain cottons in a diamond design. The patchwork has been hand sewn by piecing over papers, and there are three main compartments with semicircles of wool at the bottom to hold needles. A huswife was a cloth roll with different sections where various sewing tools could be kept. This one has a cross-stitched dedication ‘A gift from Sarah Iles to Edward Buckler, 1856’.
The provenance of this piece is uncertain.It has been suggested that the huswife was given to a soldier, as sewing kits were often issued to soldiers and the Crimean War has been suggested as a possible time frame that fits with the dedication. Another suggestion, based on family history research of the names is that is was made for an Edward Buckler who was born on 15 October 1822, in Poole Dorset. He was a mariner who was promoted to mate in 1851 and master mate in 1855. It is possible this was made for him by Sarah Iles to use on board ship in celebration of his most recent promotion. Unfortnuately the relationship between the two names remains a mystery, as Sarah's name is a popular one and yields too many potential results.
