Lord Chancellor's Burse (Purse) with Royal Cypher and Coat of Arms of George III | Cleveland Museum of Art

Lord Chancellor's Burse (Purse) with Royal Cypher and Coat of Arms of George III

1760–1801

England, 18th century

Red silk velvet, silk embroidery, goldwork, pearls, black beads, sequins, pendant tassels

Overall: 78 x 50 x 5 cm (30 11/16 x 19 11/16 x 1 15/16 in.)
Weight: 2.2 kg (4.85 lbs.)

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade 1916.1366

Location: not on view

You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.

Description

A richly decorated burse (purse) to hold the monarch's Great Seal of the Realm has a traditional role in the opening of parliament. The safekeeping of the seal was the responsibility of the Keeper of the Great Seal, an office later incorporated into the role of Lord Chancellor. Because the Great Seal was attached to all major documents of state, it was the ultimate symbol of royal authority. The use of a special burse to hold the seal can be traced back to the end of the 13th century. By the end of the 16th century, the burse had evolved into the highly decorated, professional work of embroidery seen in this object. It includes the lion and unicorn surrounding the royal crest and is made from crimson velvet. Burses were replaced annually; it being a "perk" of office that the Lord Chancellor and Keeper of the Great Seal was allowed to keep the fragments of the old seal and accompanying burse. Portraits of Lord Chancellors, from the Tudor period onward, depict them with their burse. Cleveland’s collection includes one such portrait by American artist Gilbert Stuart (1755–1828) of Irish Lord Chancellor John FitzGibbon, 1st Earl of Clare (1748–1802) who was Lord Chancellor from 1789 to 1802. Baron FitzGibbon’s portrait (1919.910) is on view in gallery 204.

Lord Chancellor's Burse (Purse) with Royal Cypher and Coat of Arms of George III

Lord Chancellor's Burse (Purse) with Royal Cypher and Coat of Arms of George III

1760–1801

England, 18th century

See Also

Visually Similar Artworks

CMA Store

Gardens: The Cleveland Museum of Art

Gardens: The Cleveland Museum of Art

By Mary Hoerner, Jeffrey Strean, Leslie Cade The Cleveland Museum of Art opened to the public in 1916. In front of the majestic marble structure, however, was a neglected parcel of land with a small lake owned by the City of Cleveland. In the 1920s the Garden Club of Cleveland took on the job of transforming this blighted plot into the Fine Arts Garden, a beautiful place everyone could enjoy. Mary Hoerner delves into the history of the Fine Arts Garden, and Jeffrey Strean and Leslie Cade discuss past and present developments of the museum’s grounds as well as plans for the future. This lavishly illustrated and beautifully designed book presents a new aspect of the history of a distinguished institution. 108 pages Published 2016

The Cleveland Museum of Art: Art Spaces

The Cleveland Museum of Art: Art Spaces

This fully illustrated book presents a brief view of the museum’s recent renovations and additions by famed architect Rafael VinÞoly. Confronted with the need to address facility concerns, devise more gallery space, and connect the various pre-existing styles from earlier additions, VinÞoly designs an architectural masterpiece by using a scheme of various spaces and architectural elements, all united by a soaring glass-roofed atrium to harmonize the museums architecture. 64 pages Published 2013

Treasures from the Cleveland Museum of Art

Treasures from the Cleveland Museum of Art

Forward by David Franklin Introduction by C. Griffith Mann with contributions by Curators and Associate Curators of the Cleveland Museum Staff The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 40,000 objects and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. Published to celebrate the closing stages of a long-term renovation and expansion, this exquisitely illustrated volume features treasures from the museum's deep and wide-reaching collection including Asian Art, African Art, American Painting and Sculpture, European Painting and Sculpture, Medieval Art, Ancient Egyptian Art, Ancient Near East and Greek and Roman Art, Islamic Art, Art of the Ancient Americas, Drawings, Prints, Photography, Decorative Art and Design, Textiles, Modern Art, and Contemporary Art. 352 pages Published 2012

Art: The Definitive Visual History

Art: The Definitive Visual History

by Andrew Graham Dixon Discover more than 2,500 of the world’s most influential paintings and sculptures in this beautifully- illustrated guide to the history of art. Introducing Art: The Definitive Visual Guide – an invaluable reference book that spans 30,000 years of global art history, from cave paintings to contemporary art, and showcases the works of over 700 artists in striking detail to truly bring the artwork to life. Each artistic movement, from the Italian Renaissance to Impressionism to Graffiti Art, is explained in clear detail with descriptions of their origins and influences, characteristic styles and techniques, and typical subjects.A visual timeline of key works gives an overview of the scope of each major movement, while graphics, overlays, and detailed close-ups, show readers how to "read" composition and subject matter, and explain the specifics of the techniques and methods the artist used to create their masterpieces.Explore the pages of this awe-inspiring art history book to discover: - Over 2500 of the world’s most influential paintings and sculptures- Features stunning artwork from more than 700 artists- ‘Closer Look’ sections offer a detailed analysis of key paintings The 6 core chapters are structured chronologically, starting with prehistoric art and ancient civilizations, right the way up until modern-day artwork, so there’s something for everyone to explore, learn and love. From Romanticism in the 19th Century to Realism in the 20th Century, whether it’s Pop Art or Expressionism, Minimalism and so much more – the beautiful full-color illustrations and striking imagery, make this art book the perfect gift for the art and history lover in your life, as well as an ideal coffee table book.Doubling up as a riveting reference book for anyone with an interest in art history who wants to gain a broader knowledge of the subject, as well as the perfect classroom companion in schools, libraries and more. Created in collaboration with Bridgeman, the biggest art library in the world, Art: The Definitive Visual Guide is a must-have for your bookshelf. 612 pages, Hardcover Published 2018

Contact us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, a detail image, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.