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

Purse

1800-1849 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Great Britain (made)

Many thousands of small purses were knitted, embroidered or crocheted in the nineteenth century, intended either for personal use or as a gift or donated to a worthy fundraising cause. Crocheting, incorporating brightly coloured beadwork, was popular in the 1830s, but it was knitting as a domestic craft that thrived as a elegant drawing-room occupation. Much time was devoted to making intricate and delicate items of fancy work without obvious use.


Object details

Categories
Accessories
SCRAN
Europeana Fashion Project
Object type
Purse
Materials and techniques
Knitted silk threads, with silk lining
Silk Thread
Silk (Textile)
Brief description
Purse, knitted silk, 'pineapple' bag, English, 1800-1850
Physical description
Purse knitted in coloured silks with horizontal bands of openwork, silk drawstring and tassels and lined with green silk
Gallery label
  • FASCINATION WITH THE NATURAL WORLD Bag designs have long been inspired by the vibrant colours and shapes of the natural world. Pineapples, for example, became a symbol of opulence and exoticism across the arts after their introduction into Europe in the 17th century. 'Pineapple Mania' reached a pinnacle in 19th century England when pineapple-shaped bags and accessories were the height of fashion [T.531&2-1996]. Contemporary designers have continued this trend by using realistic materials and shapes, such as Emily Jo Gibbs’ spiky horse chestnut bag that opens to reveal a conker-shaped purse. V&A, Room 40, Bags: Inside Out. (12/2020)
  • 14. PURSE Hand-knitted silk with steel beads English, mid 19th century This dainty purse, knitted with stripes in a fancy stitch, closes at the top with a drawstring. T.27-1910(1985)
Summary
Many thousands of small purses were knitted, embroidered or crocheted in the nineteenth century, intended either for personal use or as a gift or donated to a worthy fundraising cause. Crocheting, incorporating brightly coloured beadwork, was popular in the 1830s, but it was knitting as a domestic craft that thrived as a elegant drawing-room occupation. Much time was devoted to making intricate and delicate items of fancy work without obvious use.
Collection
Textiles and Fashion Collection
Accession number
T.27-1910

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Record createdFebruary 26, 2003
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O75481/purse-unknown/
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