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] ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).