#houart

[o-druida-ebrio]

— Bénédicte Houart, no livro "Há Dias II". (Ed. Do Lado Esquerdo; 1ª edição [2016]).

[petric0or]

— Bénédicte Houart, no livro "Há Dias II". (Ed. Do Lado Esquerdo; 1ª edição [2016]).

[gtccollectionstories]

Needlework tools and etuis

20294, ivory etui with scissors and thimble

"Etuis" or "necessaires" were small cases specially designed for the safe carrying of needlework tools outside the home. Being so much smaller than work boxes or sewing tables, they contained only the essentials - usually a pair of scissors and a thimble, and sometimes a needlecase or a bodkin or a stiletto. Originally manufactured in France (as indicated by the name!) they were popular gifts and souvenirs for travellers.

The most common type of etui was a flat box in a variety of shapes and made from materials including wood, leather, mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell. Another popular design in the second half of the nineteenth century was a cube shaped box (usually in tooled leather) containing scissors, a needlecase and a thimble and a few other small accessories. This was called a "Lady's Companion", and was often shaped like a small book, with the name embossed on the spine.

20294, exterior and Rachel label

This etui measures just 8.5 x 4cm, and was donated in 1945 by Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth. It is made from solid ivory with gilt hinges and has recesses in the bottom half and in the lid to house a tiny pair of gilt scissors and a matching thimble. It is typical of those made from 1840 onwards. Although this style of etui was manufactured in England as well, the decoration on the scissors would suggest that this one is probably French.

Both the scissors and thimble have obviously been well used, as the gilt is very worn in places and one of the tips of the scissors is broken off.

20294, scissors

The exterior of the etui is very smooth and highly polished with an ivory push button fastening. Being small and neat and taking up very little space, it would have been slipped into an embroidery work-bag and carried by the owner when out visiting.

Rachel had also carried her needlework tools with her, as she liked to be able to work on her projects at every opportunity. She recorded that the Huntroyde bedspread, pelmet and hangings had been completed in "largely odd minutes and some midnight oil".

In the photograph below, you can see that there is a fabric case next to Rachel, together with her scissors and the case for her thimble - which was needed as it was inlaid with turquoises. Fabric cases like these were known as "hussifs", and were often homemade, personal gifts. They folded or rolled up and had several internal stitched pockets and loops and typically contained a pair of scissors, needles, pins and threads.

Rachel with her embroidery frame. Note one of the hangings from the Huntroyde bed is on the right. (GTC Archives)

This ivory etui is quite an early design, as acknowledged by the label. As Rachel was not born until 1886, it is most likely that it had belonged to someone else before her.

It may have been given to her by an older relative or friend, or she might simply have found it in an antique shop...

Jane H.

REFERENCES:

Antique Needlework Tools and Embroideries: Nerylla Taunton, Antique Collectors Club, 1997

Sewing Accessories: An Illustrated History: Victor Houart, Souvenir Press, 1984

An Illustrated History of Needlework Tools: Gay Ann Rogers, John Murray, 1983

[micahtheartist]

- This piece was commissioned from a client who asked me creat a piece that depicts the times that some of us “ol timers” spent at Dj shows at BAR RIO. So with the help of Dj @thestarkist on the decks at my studio I created this piece. It was a great session. - - 77002 37x80 Acrylic, pencil, canvas - #micahtheartist #zurich #london #berlin #europe #contemporary #abstractfineart #collectors #collector #artcollector #gallerrywall #galleries #gallerist #liveart #liveartist #studiolife #houart (at Houston, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-gK22iJaVB/?igshid=quhzdnobhthn

[e2thg]

The OBAMA PORTRAITS Tour @mfahouston @barackobama @michelleobama @kehindewiley @asherald 👊🏾🔥💚 #obamaportraitstour #mfahouston #blackexcellence #barackobama #michelleobama #kehindewiley #amysherald #mypresident #houart #instaart (at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston) https://www.instagram.com/p/CeCgc9Apch5/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[adiosalasrosas]

[kiki-de-la-petite-flaque]

Chamo-me Penélope

dizem que passei muitas noites a tecer

é mentira

passei-as a fazer amor

com cada um dos meus pretendentes

e gozei de cada vez a valer

depois chegou o meu velho marido

dizem que não o reconheci

é mentira

ele é que não me conheceu

Ítaca onde me deitei

deu-me todas as viagens que desejei.

Bénédicte Houart

[poemaseletras]

— Bénédicte Houart, no livro "Vida - Variações III". (Ed. Cotovia; 3.ª edição [2016]).

[rlimarjbr]

— Bénédicte #Houart, em "#Reconhecimento". (Ed. #Cotovia; 1ª edição [2005]). #Ano2005 #BénédicteHouart ... https://www.instagram.com/p/BtboKpqAWVf/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=52aqogvs7p6x

[o-druida-ebrio]

— Bénédicte Houart, no livro "Vida - Variações III". (Ed. Cotovia; 3.ª edição [2016]).

[fernandoguel]

Feels great outside! Cool n breezy 😅🙌🌀🌠❄🐈 #sketching away while Im #chillin at the #laundromat . . . . . . . #art #chillin #laundromatlife #laundromatnchill #dibujo #drawing #sketchedbook #artlife #dailydrawing #dailysketch #artlife #htxart #houart #houstonart

[comporsilencios]

~ Benedicte Houart

[micahtheartist]

- Walking in to a house and seeing your work on the wall … This will never get’s old. - Thank you @ledevault !!!! #micahtheartist #zurich #london #berlin #europe #contemporary #abstractfineart #collectors #collector #artcollector #gallerrywall #galleries #gallerist #liveartist #studiolife #houart #interiordesigner (at Houston, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGQsYkDJm8s/?igshid=wbqk5a8zqtd1

[osabordopecado1]

falou-me com duas pedras na mão eu atirei-lhas de volta por pouco não lhe rachei a cabeça parti o vidro duma montra ficou parecida com uma teia de aranha chovesse, então, era uma maravilha veio um polícia e levou-me bem lhe expliquei a situação visivelmente não compreendeu que uma metáfora por vezes tem consequências pouco legais multou-me e aconselhou-me a não reincidir coisa que fiz logo de seguida

--  Bénédicte Houart

[leonardeugenius]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Leonard Eugene Arnold II (@leonardeugenius)

Me murdering my #song “Hubris” last night at #thefloorisyours . . . #openmic #openmicnight #musicmonday #originalmusic #singersongwriter #houston #houstonartist #htx #musicproducer #electronicmusic #musicproduction #gayart #gayartist #queerart #queerartist #popmusic #houstonmusic #houarts #texas #texasmusic #newmusic #love https://www.instagram.com/p/Bnl7HfDgxBa/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=xksffh3um6o2

[o-druida-ebrio]

— Bénédicte Houart, no livro “Vida - Variações II”. (Ed. Cotovia; 1.ª edição [2011]).