Handbag thumbnail 1
Handbag thumbnail 2
Not on display

Handbag

ca. 1926 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Clutch handbag of black silk made to imitate astrakhan. It has a clasp with red amber balls suspended from a long chain threaded through the clasp. Top fastening. It is lined with white silk and has a change purse, a pocket and a vanity mirror.

Delve deeper

Discover more about this object
watch Victorian fashion history: 1890s Dive into the more surprising side of Victorian fashion history and see some of the crazes from the 1890s.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Handbag
  • Vanity Mirror
Materials and techniques
Silk lined with silk, metal, amber
Brief description
Handbag of silk imitation astrakhan, and vanity mirror, made in Great Britain, ca. 1926
Physical description
Clutch handbag of black silk made to imitate astrakhan. It has a clasp with red amber balls suspended from a long chain threaded through the clasp. Top fastening. It is lined with white silk and has a change purse, a pocket and a vanity mirror.
Gallery label
(12/2020)
ADORNMENT

Whether crystal-encrusted or trimmed with exotic feathers, evening bags can finish an outfit like a piece of fine jewellery. Often small and sculptural, these accessories can be treasured objects in their own right, selected for their beauty rather than for functionality. They signify exclusivity and are able to complement a fashionable ensemble.

Renowned jewellers such as Lacloche Frères, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Tiffany & Co. are among those who have made some of the most covetable and treasured vanity cases for evening wear, as well as handbags featuring precious and semi-precious stones and gold.

V&A, Room 40, Bags: Inside Out.
Credit line
Given by Major and Mrs Broughton
Object history
This handbag was owned by Cara Broughton, née Cara Leland Huttleston Rogers (1867-1939), who married Urban Hanlon Broughton (1857-1929) in 1895. As Urban H. Broughton died before he could be elevated to a peerage, their eldest son Urban H.R. Broughton (1896-1966) became 1st Baron Fairhaven of Lode on 20 March 1929, while Cara became 1st Lady Fairhaven. This barony became extinct on Urban H.R.Broughton's death, but a later barony, Baron Fairhaven of Anglesey Abbey, co. Cambridge, was granted to him in 1961, with a remainder to his brother, Henry (1900-1973), to enable this title to continue after his death without male heirs.

This forms part of a large donation of late 19th and early 20th century garments and accessories (with a few historical textiles) donated to the Museum in 1972 by Cara's grandson and Henry's son, Major Ailwyn Broughton and his wife, a year before Ailwyn became Lord Fairhaven following his father's death.
Collection
Accession number
T.238&A-1972

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdSeptember 27, 2007
Record URL
Download as: JSON