Purse

Purse

Materials: Glass seed beads (white, champagne, gunmetal tones) Faux pearls and elongated “rice” beads Silk or cotton fabric ground Metal zipper closure Fabric-lined interior Beaded shoulder strap Design & construction details ✨ Beadwork Tiny white seed beads form dense fields Champagne-toned faux pearls outline shapes Darker beads (gunmetal/steel tone) create contrast lines Elongated rice beads form floral or starburst accents This level of bead density was labor-intensive and usually done in workshops, often in: France Germany Czechoslovakia (major bead producers) 👜 Shape & layout The curved fan-like paneling is classic early Deco—structured but still soft, bridging Edwardian elegance and modern geometry. 🔒 Zipper Early metal zipper with visible teeth Fabric tape shows age toning consistent with original installation Not a replacement Zippers did not become common in women’s handbags until the mid–late 1910s, and they really took off in the 1920s. Victorian purses almost always used drawstrings or metal frames—not zippers.

circa 1915 – circa 1925

Art Deco

Good

Feb 6, 2026

Strengths Beadwork largely intact Strap present and original Zipper functional Design remains crisp and readable Wear Interior lining shows staining and age darkening (normal) Some bead patina and slight dulling Minor thread fatigue at stress points (expected) Overall: Very good antique condition for a heavily beaded bag.

Description

Evening handbag with dense glass bead embroidery and early metal zipper closure, c. 1915–1925. The geometric composition and compact form reflect the transition from Edwardian decorative traditions to early Art Deco aesthetics, coinciding with new social freedoms and technological advancements in fashion.