Purse knitted in coloured silks with horizontal bands of openwork, silk drawstring and tassels and lined with green silkMany thousands of small purses were knitted, embroidered or crocheted in the nineteenth century, intended either for personal use or as a gift or donated to a worthy fundraising cause. Crocheting, incorporating brightly coloured beadwork, was popular in the 1830s, but it was knitting as a domestic craft that thrived as a elegant drawing-room occupation. Much time was devoted to making intricate and delicate items of fancy work without obvious use.14. PURSE
Hand-knitted silk with steel beads
English, mid 19th century
This dainty purse, knitted with stripes in a fancy stitch, closes at the top with a drawstring.
T.27-1910 [1985]