IDENTIFIERS ----------- id: 150666 accession number: M.35 & A-1929 DATE AUDIT ---------- created: Saturday 6 August 2011 updated: Monday 29 April 2024 DESCRIPTIVE DATA ---------------- object type: Boiled, stamped and engraved leather (cuir bouilli) case, with three internal compartments, probably for holding a knife, fork and spoon. The domed pull-off lid and tapering body have two suspension loops on each side, through which a cord would have been threaded. The case is decorated with borders of scrolling foliage on a matted ground, diaperwork and an oval cartouche containing pseudo armorials of a tree. object type: boiled leather case for holding cutlery; decorated with stamped and engraved borders and an oval cartouche containing a tree title: cutlery case NOTES ----- type: history note value: from the Fitzhenry Collection, and later the Spitzer Collection LICENSING --------- text license status: CC0 image license status: CC-BY-NC-SA OWNERSHIP --------- instutition: The Fitzwilliam Museum department: Applied Arts creditline: Given by W.E Miller STABLE URL ---------- url: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/150666 TECHNIQUES ---------- There is much conjecture on how 'boiled leather' or 'cuir bouilli' was made and whether the leather was boiled in water. The most popular theory is the one suggested in 'La Grande Encyclopedie (Paris 1887-1905) in which: 'pieces of leather must be boiled in wax mixed with resin and glue. Once boiled in this manner, the leather preserves, whilst it is moist, sufficient pliability to enable it to be moulded, and when it is dry it possess a hardness and rigidity nearly equal to that of wood to which it is preferable by reason of its lightness.' The stamped and engraved decoration would have been added before the leather was dried. cuir bouilli CATEGORIES ------ category: boxes DATING ------ creation date: 1550 - 1650 creation date earliest: 1550 creation date latest: 1650 culture: 16th Century, Mid-17th Century CREATORS -------- maker: Unknown DIMENSIONS ---------- dimension: Height units: cm value: 5 dimension: Length units: cm value: 24.5 dimension: Width units: cm value: 6.6 CITATIONS -------- Leather in Life, Art and Industry Conservation of Leather and Related Materials ---