This is a Victorian era hand beaded purse or evening bag. It is silk lined, with a drawstring cinch and a snap closure on the strap. The glass beadwork forms a very special multicolored design, featuring floral and leaf motifs. The dominant colors are yellow, red, green, and pink. The strap is also beaded silk, with a red outlets and yellow beaded striping detail. The glass beading gives this piece and incredible quality weight and feel, and the silk is supple and in incredible shape for its age.
There is a bit of shredding and wear to the silk, mostly on the strap due to use, but the silk and the purse as a whole are still quite strong. The drawstring is enforced with black beads and is functional. The snap closure on the strap is affixed with thread and is in functioning condition. There is minor bead loss throughout, mainly on the strap as can be seen in the pictures.
The purse hangs at 14 inches long in total, and the body of the bag is 7.5 inches long by 6 inches wide.
MK
Item ID: hpcapplebob25
Product code: Antique Victorian Hand outlets Beaded Purse c. 1890