Long Purse

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Long Purse

c. 1840

Artist/maker unknown, American

Miser’s purses were typically made by netting, knitting, or crocheting. These single-element constructions—where individual threads are worked upon themselves—made the purses both flexible and durable. As seen in this example, different techniques could be used to produce similar designs. Although each maker determined how a purse was created, surviving patterns from the period illustrate the shifts in preference for these techniques. Netting was often recommended in the 1840s and 1850s, while knitting was more common for purses from the 1860s through the 1880s. Crocheting, the most popular method, appears recurrently in patterns from the mid-1840s through the early twentieth century.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Title:

Long Purse

Date:

c. 1840

Artist:

Artist/maker unknown, American

Medium:

Knitted silk; steel beads and rings

Dimensions:

13 1/2 × 2 1/8 inches (34.3 × 5.4 cm) Length excluding tassels: 8 1/4 inches (21 cm)

Classification:

Costume (including accessories)

Credit Line:

Gift of Mrs. William D. Frishmuth, 1904

Accession Number:

1904-25

Geography:

Made in United States, North and Central America

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Currently not on view

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