Beaded Purse

Beaded purses were essential accessories for women during the Victorian era and remain popular today. Floral patterns were one of the most cherished. Line and form are stylized according to aesthetic principles of the period, but many blooms are recognizable.
In the late 19th century, many Americans applied for patents for metal purse frames. They could be highly decorative, but this one is simple and marked "St. Regis"� inside. Shops sold beaded purses readymade, but amateurs could also obtain floral and other patterns from fashion publishers.