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Pitt Rivers Museum

1964.2.25

Purse of chamois leather with two steel rings. [MJD 25/05/2010]


1964.2.25

Digital asset copyright: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford

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Collection type
Object
Description
Purse of chamois leather with two steel rings. [MJD 25/05/2010]
Long description
Purse of chamois leather with two steel rings. The purse is long oval shaped with a slit opening in the centre. The two steel rings are positioned between the slit and the pouch ends. One end is decorated with loops of transparent beads. [MJD 25/05/2010]
Cultural groups
English
Person
Maker Unknown Maker
Field collector Unknown Collector
PRM source Patience Watters
PRM source J. H. Luckett
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1963
Date collected
By 1963
Acquisition information
Bequeathed: 1964
Materials and processes
Material Antelope Skin Animal, Material Animal Leather Skin, Material Steel Metal, Material Bead, Process Stitched, Process Forged (Metal), Process Strung
Dimensions
Length: max 302 mm, Width: max 38 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1964.2.25
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