Featured small silk purse with glass beads

You never know what you're going to find when you start looking through bins of old stuff! This was in with a bunch of silk scarves I used to wear from the late 1960's thru the early 1980's.

I don't even recall OWNING this little purse, and I have no clue whatsoever about its age or anything else. (Was it my Mom's? My grandmother's?)

It measures 6 1/2" across and 5 1/2" top to bottom. It seems to be silk, the beads are glass, and there is a silk lining with a pocket. The embossed metal frame must have been plated at one time. It does not seem to be marked anywhere.

There are several small stains here & there on the outside.




Any thoughts about age, maker, or anything else regarding this purse will be appreciated! Thanks so much!

 

Oh, how lovely! Discovering (or rediscovering) that you own this beautiful thing must have put a smile on your face.

 

Thanks, Fig!

I did smile, but then I thought, "Are you kidding me? MORE stuff???"

 

Sweet little thing. The irregular pattern reminds me of brain coral. It looks like there is an "S" hidden in the embroidered beading. Just happenstance or did the lady doing the work put it there on purpose? Or is it just my imagination, LOL.

 

Laura, your guess is as good as mine! (Now that you've got me looking, I'm seeing S's everywhere!)

 

A lot of these were made in France. There should be a mark on the metal somewhere

 

Thanks, Bev. I looked over the frame, inside and out, with a loupe - didn't find a single mark...

 

Hi, These little bags were very popular throughout the 60's and 70's to carry to a special event. If there is a country of origin anywhere in/on the bag, it is most likely on a small silk hangtag on the inside edge. If it were more of a high-end bag, then you may find a country stamped on the outside metal edge. It's still a great memory or rather, loss of memory (-; and worth maybe, $20-25 in that condition...

 

These also often come from Belgium, as well as France. I'd think 60s, too.

 

By the 1960s, if memory serves, they were more likely to be from Hong Kong. And, yes, it should be marked with country of origin. Given shape, daintiness, and fact cream not white (beaded items from Hong Kong in that era tended to be bright white, again if memory serves) think a bit earlier and Japan. But doesn't really matter as, in that condition, not really salable (unless frame extra special.) That said, always find these charming. And surprisingly, still to be found in thrift shops. Silk, all that handwork, and unvalued. Such a shame.

Debora

 

Pretty bag! My guess would be c. 1940s, origin unknown, looks European to me. The bead design is not uncommon in textiles, called vermicelli, often used to fill a ground, and goes back at least to the 17th century. It always makes me smile. Waistcoat- English- 1700-1720

 

Wow, Darkwing, that's lovely! Is the entire front beaded?

 

No, it's silk embroidered on linen. Colonial Williamsburg collection.

 

Geez, I wouldn't have guessed that!

It certainly is lovely.

 

I didn't see this when new. I would also go with 1940s, when my mother was in high school & college. There seem to have been a number of organizations that held formal dances and I have a few little evening bags she had from then.

 

I love it.

 

It looks very similar to a handbag (packed away) that DH gave me as a wedding present in 1960.
Patd