Forage
Item 26-235
Item 26-235
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This antique purse measures 10 x 8cm and is a wonderful example of the kind of personal accessory that would have been carried by an ordinary woman around 1900. The delicate beadwork, tiny scale, and floral pattern make it a lovely companion piece to antique lace, sewing tools, and textiles from the same period. For textile and haberdashery collectors, its historical appeal is often greater than its monetary value.
The purse is made from thousands of tiny glass seed beads hand-stitched into a floral design - some of which are missing.
The white ground with blue forget-me-not style flowers, green leaves, and metallic gold accents was a very popular decorative scheme around the turn of the 20th century.
The purse would have been used to carry coins and small personal items. The beaded bag is attached to a pressed metal frame with a simple clasp, typical of purses made before the widespread use of zippers.
Based on the style and the fact that it was found in southern France we suspect it is French or possibly German/French-border manufacture. France, Germany, Austria, and Bohemia were major producers of glass beads and beaded accessories during this period.
The tiny uniform beads appear to be glass seed beads, likely made in Bohemia (modern Czech Republic), which supplied much of Europe’s bead trade.
