I'm not an expert, but I love antique beaded purses (and metal mesh one's  
too) and have been learning a little more here and there. Could you also  email 
the photos to me?
 
The purse (or portions of it) should be relatively easy to id with the  marks 
and dates that you have. Purses that required handwork (such as the  
beadwork), may have not been produced and distributed by the same  manufacturer as the 
metal frame and/or the leather portion of the bag. If the  bead design was a 
pattern that was mass produced, then there should be  other comparative 
examples of course. If the frame and basic leather purse were  part of a kit (the 
beads and pattern may have been supplied or available  separately) then there 
may be more variations in designs and some beadwork  designs may be original.
 
So just to keep in mind -that the maker's mark may turn out to be  attributed 
to the handle only. The leather bag may have been attached to the  handle by 
the same manufacturer and then distributed with or without the other  
materials, beads and patterns. The remainder would then have been produced  by another 
company, or by individuals for personal use or resale. 
 
It sounds like a lovely purse and the manufacturers of the handle and  
leather portions of the purse should be easy to identify. If the beadwork is  
original, the only comparison you may find is in that of the basic purse with a  
different beadwork design.
 
Please let us know what you end up coming up with. Pam
 
 
In a message dated 1/8/2007 9:20:36 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
[log in to unmask] writes:


We  had a museum visitor bring in a small woman’s beaded purse today for 
identification,  and I couldn’t help her with it. I am hoping somebody in this 
august group is an expert on beaded  purses. It is perhaps four  inches wide, in 
the classic change purse shape – rounded bottom, straight angled sides,  
narrower top with a rather elaborate clasp of plated brass. It  is made of  heavy 
soft leather, the outside completely covered  with glass seed beads. The 
pattern, identical on each side, shows two birds, probably peacocks,  perched facing 
each other on a stylized plant with a central flower. The birds  are 
primarily blue,  with gold wings trimmed in blue and red, long tails trimmed in 
yellow, green and  red, and red crests. The background is beige with a pattern of 
flowers in red,  white and blue. Under the birds in blue is what appears to be a 
date, 1907,  followed by what looks like a backward 7 followed by a period. 
Inside the  purse is a smaller compartment of the same shape crocheted out of 
brown  cotton. There are the initials M.S. stamped on the clasp, probably a  
manufacturer’s mark. I have digital photographs of the purse I could send to  
anybody who might be able to help us identify this item. It is in excellent  
shape, all the beads tightly in place, the only real sign  of age or use being 
the  wearing off of the plating on the brass and the fact that the clasp no 
longer  operates. The woman who owned it  was born in Wales, but moved to the 
United States during the late 19th Century. Her husband was British, and a  member 
of International Woodmen of the World and the Improved Order of Red  Men. He 
traveled frequently  between the United States and Britain, so the purse could 
have originated in  either place. 
Please let me know if you would like me to send you the  photographs. 
Many  thanks, 
Anne  Lane 
Anne T. Lane, Collections  Manager 
Charlotte Museum of History 
3500 Shamrock Drive 
Charlotte NC 28215 
704-568-1774, ext 110 
[log in to unmask]



 
Pamela Silvestri, Volunteer Assistant Museum  Director
Northeast States Civilian Conservation Corps Museum
Shenipsit  State Forest Headquarters
166 Chestnut Hill Road
Stafford Springs,  Connecticut 06076
Telephone: (860) 684-3430
e-mail: [log in to unmask]  or
[log in to unmask]

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