Sovereign purse, of green silk net decorated with steel beads. [MJD 25/05/2010]

Collection type: Object
Description: Sovereign purse, of green silk net decorated with steel beads. [MJD 25/05/2010]
Long description: Sovereign purse, of green silk net decorated with steel beads. The purse has two steel rings. The slender purse has a pouch at either end with a slit opening in the middle. The purse has a steel beadwork fringe at one end and tassel at the other. [MJD 25/05/2010]
Geographical reference: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Europe > Northern Europe > United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; England
Cultural groups: English
Person: Maker Unknown Maker; Field collector Estella Louisa Michaela Canziani; PRM source Estella Louisa Michaela Canziani
Date / Period: Date made: 1825-1900
Date collected: By September 1965
Acquisition information: Bequeathed: 1965
Materials and processes: Material Silk Textile Animal, Material Net Textile, Material Bead, Material Steel Metal, Material Pigment, Process Netted, Process Dyed, Process Strung
Dimensions: Length: max 286 mm, Width: max 75 mm
Object numbers: Accession number: 1965.9.128
Research and responses: http://www.hants.gov.uk/museum/bags/bags02.html: Small knitted, netted or crocheted silk or cotton coin purses are also characteristic of this period and were known as stocking purses, or 'miser' purses. By mid century these had metal fastenings and the whole was often made of a delicate metal chain, which supported sovereigns and half sovereigns, hence the term 'sovereign purse'. Chamois leather was also used, together with metal rings to secure the coins. Sovereign cases were of circular metal design, with an internal spring to release a coin at a time. It is worth noting that in North America handbags are still called purses, which may refer back to their introduction there from Europe after 1800, when they will still primarily coin purses. [AP 25/09/2006]

Search terms: Bag, Currency, Purse