№ 1255

Sweetbag worked in silks on a ground of silver thread with text woven in drawstring

Small bags like this were often used as luxury packaging for a gift of gold, jewellery, a miniature or beautifully perfumed powder or flowers to a king, members of his court, dignitaries or simply to a friend or girlfriend. In England and France so-called sweetbags containing gold, perfume powder or sweet smelling flowers were given to the king at New Year. The bags with powder or flowers were laid like a lavender bag in a cupboard or hung between clothes.