Handbag thumbnail 1
Handbag thumbnail 2
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Not currently on display at the V&A

Handbag

mid 19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Silk woven in plaid and tartan patterns became very fashionable in the middle of the nineteenth century. Queen Victoria's association with Scotland helped to promote the fabric as a choice for day and evening dresses, as well as hats and other accessories. An offcut may have been used to make this useful bag, beautifully and probably professionally embroidered with a thistle, an appropriately Scottish emblem. The cord handle and tassels were probably custom-made to match the tones of the woven silk.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Embroidered silk satin, lined with silk, wood
Brief description
Handbag made of embroidered silk satin and lined with silk, England, mid-19th century
Physical description
Bag made of tartan silk embroidered with a thistle. The bag is square, slightly gathered at the top, and with stiffened edges. It is woven in satin and lined in plain white silk. The tartan has a white centre on which is a silver brocaded thistle. The handle ends have multicoloured tassels with silk-covered wooden bobbles of the colours woven in the tartan. The tartan is possibly the Balmoral pattern.
Dimensions
  • Height: 14cm
  • Width: 15cm
  • Height: 5.5in
  • Width: 6in
Credit line
Given by Capt. H. G. H. Tracy, RN
Summary
Silk woven in plaid and tartan patterns became very fashionable in the middle of the nineteenth century. Queen Victoria's association with Scotland helped to promote the fabric as a choice for day and evening dresses, as well as hats and other accessories. An offcut may have been used to make this useful bag, beautifully and probably professionally embroidered with a thistle, an appropriately Scottish emblem. The cord handle and tassels were probably custom-made to match the tones of the woven silk.
Collection
Accession number
T.67-1961

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Record createdSeptember 11, 2001
Record URL
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