Silver purse with an engraved butterfly and a chain strap used by a hidden child 2007.42.1 front
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States
Silver purse decorated with a butterfly given to Elzbieta Lusthaus by her maternal grandmother, Sophie Lieberman Schiff, before they were moved into the ghetto in Tarnow in German-occupied Poland in 1941. The purse had been owned by her grandmother for many years. Elzbieta kept it always with her while in hiding, with the silver mesh coin purse, 2007.42.2. On June 11, 1942, the Germans came to the house searching for Jews to deport to the concentration camps. Four year old Elizabeth hid, but her grandmother was taken by the Germans and shipped to Belzec extermination camp, where she was killed. Elzbieta and her mother, Helena, fled Tarnow and survived the war under false identities as Polish Catholics, sheltered by a Catholic family in Milanowek.
Silver purse decorated with a butterfly given to Elzbieta Lusthaus by her maternal grandmother, Sophie Lieberman Schiff, before they were moved into the ghetto in Tarnow in German-occupied Poland in 1941. The purse had been owned by her grandmother for many years. Elzbieta kept it always with her while in hiding, with the silver mesh coin purse, 2007.42.2. On June 11, 1942, the Germans came to the house searching for Jews to deport to the concentration camps. Four year old Elizabeth hid, but her grandmother was taken by the Germans and shipped to Belzec extermination camp, where she was killed. Elzbieta and her mother, Helena, fled Tarnow and survived the war under false identities as Polish Catholics, sheltered by a Catholic family in Milanowek.
- Title: Silver purse with an engraved butterfly and a chain strap used by a hidden child 2007.42.1 front
- Provenance: The handbag was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2007 by Elizabeth Lusthaus Strassburger., The handbag was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2007 by Elizabeth Lusthaus Strassburger.
- Subject Keywords: Hidden children (Holocaust)--Poland--Biography. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Poland--Personal narratives. Jewish children in the Holocaust--Poland--Biography. Jewish families--Poland--Biography. Jewish refugees--Italy--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Refugees--Italy--Personal narratives., Hidden children (Holocaust)--Poland--Biography. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Poland--Personal narratives. Jewish children in the Holocaust--Poland--Biography. Jewish families--Poland--Biography. Jewish refugees--Italy--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Refugees--Italy--Personal narratives.
- Type: Dress Accessories, Dress Accessories
- Rights: Permanent Collection, Permanent Collection
- External Link: See the full record at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, See the full record at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Medium: Small rectangular purse made from 2 silver plates with curved tops. The plates are joined by a flat, metal, hinged top, 4.75 inches wide decorated with a geometric design and a kiss lock clasp. A 13.5 inch chain link strap is attached the top. The front plate has an engraved design of 2 wheat stalks with a butterfly inlaid with red and blue glass beads to form the head and body. The interior of the rear plate has numbers for copyright and patent registration, maker’s marks, and the silver hallmark number. The interior has cardboard backing for 2 leather accordion pockets with 2 snap flap pockets attached to the back, and one to the front. Within 1 pocket is the original rectangular leather backed mirror. The other pocket has a flapped snap pocket attached to the front., Small rectangular purse made from 2 silver plates with curved tops. The plates are joined by a flat, metal, hinged top, 4.75 inches wide decorated with a geometric design and a kiss lock clasp. A 13.5 inch chain link strap is attached the top. The front plate has an engraved design of 2 wheat stalks with a butterfly inlaid with red and blue glass beads to form the head and body. The interior of the rear plate has numbers for copyright and patent registration, maker’s marks, and the silver hallmark number. The interior has cardboard backing for 2 leather accordion pockets with 2 snap flap pockets attached to the back, and one to the front. Within 1 pocket is the original rectangular leather backed mirror. The other pocket has a flapped snap pocket attached to the front.
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