Seeking Beaded Purse Identification

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

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