Pristine Antique Victorian Micro Beaded Crochet Drawstring Reticule Purse Floral Fan Rare 10” Size - Museum Quality - ca. 1880 -1895

This bag was never used - it came from a close friend, it was her grandmother’s. It is in pristine condition.

An exceptional, museum-grade example of late 19th-century textile art.This antique Victorian drawstring reticule pouch features an incredibly dense, intricately hand-executed bead-crochet construction. The glass seed micro-beads were pre-strung onto strong black textile cord prior to stitching, ensuring each individual bead is securely locked into the knit matrix. Because of this high-caliber handmade technique, the purse was intentionally designed without a fabric lining, displaying a remarkably clean, flawless, and uniform grid pattern on the interior with zero messy thread nests.

Design Elements: Features a vivid central pink rose and blue flower bouquet motif framed on a solid black ground. The lower edge terminates in an ornate geometric fan pattern accented with an intact looped micro-bead fringe drop.Top

Closure: Finished with a beautiful, tight crochet lace header and original twisted drawstring cords.

Beaded bag approximately 9” x 7”; 1” crocheted drawstring closure; 2” beaded dangle; 12” total length. There is and never was a lining. Weighs 8 oz.

Research: An affluent woman in the United States or Western Europe spent months pre-stringing tens of thousands of imported Bohemian/Venetian glass micro-beads onto thread, hand-knitting a massive 10 inch floral tapestry entirely from memory or a magazine grid, and deliberately left it unlined to showcase the flawless, knot-free perfection of her needlework.