THE PURSE MUSEUM

THE PURSE MUSEUM

Menu

ABOUT COLLECTING ANTIQUE PURSES 

What is a purse / bag / handbag / pouch / 

  • a docent’s perspective
  • an object to carry 
  • a small bag for money
  • how to date a purse 
  • storage conditions & materials
  • display

A Docent’s View Purses are just objects but they have stories to tell

As a history museum docent , I was taught that objects are useful in telling stories because they are unbiased. They are objects without a point of view… As a collector there are many things of interest

  • Beauty / Look 
  • the Materials it is made of
  • the condition
  • construction techniques
  • how it reflects the time/era in which it was made
  • the economy of where / when it was made
  • the status of the first owner
  • what it was designed to hold / and why
  • the level of industrialization of the society
  • how it holds it value
  • the prestige associated with it
  • its size and shape 
  • uniqueness of its function
  • provenance
  • where /how it was found
  • and more …. 

What to collect

  • there are no rules except
  • collect what you love
  • restoration
  • some collectors restore their purses
  • others do minor repairs / leave as found
Pinchbeck framed Regency Purse 1831

Pinchbeck framed Regency Purse 1831

Dating a Purse

Sometimes dating a purse is quite easy. Purses with dates are often more expensive. They are a reliable way to confirm the styles and materials of a period. 

Purses with provenance (sometimes a note left inside, or materials given with the purse or family member) give clues the era.

Knowledge of period styles, or comparable known similar bags work well too.

or ASK AN EXPERT - 

American Postcard Purse - Easy to date and use as a period design reference

Hard to find: American Leather Postcard Purses, are a fun find. Dating is easy because there are often copyrights on the card. The leather postcards were mailed and often contain both the stamp and postmarks . This makes it a useful reference for design techniques and styles of the period.

Storing Antique Purses - What is off gas


Protecting the Past: A study of Acetic Acid Offgassing
Jan 17, 2014 — “Proper protective housing is the first line of defense in the preservation and sustainability of library and archive collections” For textiles, acid free unbuffered tissue paper and other archival products should be considered. 

No Plastic bags. There are ‘clear bags’ that are acid free and considered archival. They can be considered for short term use. For very fine antique purses you should check with with archival storage specialty companies.

Excessive heat, light, and humidity are all factors to be considered when displaying and storing antique treasures.  

Light can cause fading on beads and fiber. Heat can cause dry rot. Humidity  can cause oxidation on older purse frames 

INSECTS can be a problem for old textile purses, especially old wool. In most cases, you will be able to put your purse in an appropriate storage bag and put it in the freezer for a couple of weeks.


Displaying Purses

Displaying is fun. Be creative. There are some challenges: dust, heat, humidity, and light. Purse construction and weight are also factors. ‘French Steel’ beaded purses should hang. 

Finding Suprises - 

1930-1940 wallet trimmed with 14k gold

1930-1940 wallet trimmed with 14k gold

This looks a lot like a ‘dance purse’, but it is a wallet. It holds paper bills, change, a pencil and small cards. It made of silk grow grain and 14 karat gold trim.!

The inside label is from Brock and Company Jewelers, Los Angeles. (this is a hot link).  At one time they considered  a partnership with Tiffany’s.

Vicki Schwager owner/collector
X