Handbag
- Place of origin:
Great Britain, UK (possibly, made)
France (possibly, made)
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
- Materials and Techniques:
Velvet and moulded papier-mâché, with chain and cut steel mount, covered in satin and faced with linen
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
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In the early nineteenth century, reticules began to resemble the later handbag, in both construction and fastening. Rigid shapes were made from moulded papier-mache or card overlaid with silk in forms such as a circle, a lyre or an urn, the two halves hinged with silk or kid, or with concertina sides. One popular shape was a moulded shell shape.
Physical description
Red velvet reticule with a body of papier-mâché pressed in the shape of a scallop shell and with alternating daisies and roses impressed round the border. With a metal chain and cut steel mount with a twisted catch and loops for attachment of a steel chain which is retained as a double link by a ring in the middle. Cut steel flowers-shaped studs are fastened at intervals round the border. The bag is folded into a concertina shape and the sides and bottom are covered in pink satin. Inside it is faced with white linen.
Place of Origin
Great Britain, UK (possibly, made)
France (possibly, made)
Date
1820-1840 (made)
Artist/maker
unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Velvet and moulded papier-mâché, with chain and cut steel mount, covered in satin and faced with linen
Dimensions
Length: 5.5 in top, Length: 6.75 in maximum
Object history note
Purchased. Registered File number 1985/2197.
Descriptive line
Red velvet reticule with a body of papier-mâché pressed in the shape of a scallop shell, possibly made in France or Great Britain, 1820-1840
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Musée de la Mode et du Costume: 'Indispensables Accessoires XVIe-XXe siècle, 8 Decembre 1983 - 23 Avril 1984'. Paris. p. 57
'Vers 1822-3, il s'en fait en soie, tende sur carton repoussé, cloutée d'acier ou brodée'.
Musée de la Mode et du Costume: 'Indispensables Accessoires XVIe-XXe siècle, 8 Decembre 1983 - 23 Avril 1984'. Paris. p. 59
'Quatre sacs à main vers 1823 (Their no. 1972. 5, 2, 3, 4 et 6) especially (d)' en forme de coquille surmontée d'un tabat Peau Beige estampée. Motifs decoupés et clous acier.'
D'Allemagne, D. Les Accessoires du Costume. Paris, 1901 Vol. I, pl. CII, No. r
Shaped like a classical vase, and made from moulded white leather, and with almost identical mount, said to be from the Colln. Doisteaux Musée des Arts Decoratifs. The references given to bags of moulded leather are in the Journal des Dames et des Modes, 1819-1820, but these were not checked because they are not in the National Art Library.
Allgemeine Modenzeitung, Plate 3
Probably for January 1821, illustrates an identical bag which is said to be made from moulded leather
Materials
Linen; Steel; Papier-mache
Techniques
Moulded; Satin weave; Mounted; Velvet weave; Impressed
Subjects depicted
Flowers; Shell
Categories
Accessories; Women's clothes
Collection code
T&D
