Artist Irene Reed ‘Queen Elizabeth’ crochet purse

Irene Reed’s Queen Elizabeth Purse exhibited in a Smithsonian exhibit of miniature tapestries

Irene Reed Inspired my Passion for Purse Collecting

Irene’s Purse are about Design, Function, History, Design, Materials Creativity and Superb Crafrsmanship

About The Purse Museum

from the private collection of artist and gallery owner: Vicki Schwager

I love to discover, preserve, and share these purses and bags of the past. Many of my favorites are handmade in the early 19th - mid 20th century, and especially from the Art Deco era.

As the collection grows there is less space . I have discovered smaller treasures from the mid 1700’s - 1840’s. You can find these detailed on my sister site: RegencyPurseMuseum.com

—click on pictures to enlarge and use arrows to scroll—

I hope you enjoy the many collections. Each piece is a new discovery.

My First Irene Reed Purse

Irene Reed Japan inspired Purse

Irene Reed Matise Inspired Purse

Chrysler Shoe Purse By Irene Reed

Exploring Irene Reed's Unique Fiber Art

Artist Irene Reed holds a special place in my heart, and in my collection.

I discovered her work years ago at an Art Show Ann Arbor, Michigan. I was stopped in my tracks by her artistry, creativity, and imagination. I couldn’t leave without one. Years later I was fortunate enough to be able to carry her pieces in my contemporary craft gallery.

The Queen Elizabeth purse you see above, was one of two pieces she created for the Smithsonian Institution's Traveling Exhibition of Miniature Tapestries. That collection traveled the world : Threadworks: Miniature Textile Art (Traveling exhibition) (1988-1991).

Irene was a self-taught Hartford-based mixed media fiber artist. Her specialty was crochet, (she invented the 3-dimensional stitch).

Shoe designer Stuart Weitzman commissioned Reed to crochet 12 sculptural shoes for his Manhattan window display. She was named a ‘Master Craftsman’ by the Society of Connecticut Craftsmen.

The Contemporary ‘Art Purse’

A contemporary Metal Mesh purse

For an antique purse collector, what will tomorrow’s antique purse look like?

The rules of collecting are very simple: Buy what you love!!

I love humor, I love color, I love texture, I love imagination, and I love handmade items!

Underskirt Pockets & Chatelaines

Before the purse, there was a Chatelaine (tool holder)

belt hook rendering of a belt hook chatelaine with multiple items

Women’s purses, handbags, bags, and their predecessors the pocket and chatelaine and hussif all share a single purpose. They hold objects that women use.

They are FUNCTIONAL OBJECTS.Their design parallels the role of the woman in society at various points in history. They reflect the owner’s status and wealth.

The materials they are made of, like any other commodity are based on cost, availability, new inventions, the style of the era.

THE WOMAN’S under skirt POCKET

These pockets were never seen. They were tied under women’s large skirts and were accessible through a long slit. They were in use from the mid 1600’s to the late 1800’s .

When styles changed in the Regency period, small purses replaced the Pocket.

Pictured below is a rare example of a double design. It has the name of the owner, and it is missing the ties that were used around the waist.

Pockets are hard find because they functional everyday objects, well worn and frequently thrown away. ‘PINTREST’ Online has examples of Pockets, including embroidered examples given as wedding gifts. Click on the Pocket to see it full size.