Purse

Many workshops in early eighteenth century France produced small purses. The finest work was in beadwork, in particular the sable-worked, drawstring purses and wallets of the mid-eighteenth century, so finely beaded they resembled grains of sand. They were made in specialist workshops in Paris using up to 1000 per square inch of extremely small and fine glass Bohemian and Venetian beads. This purse is inscribed IAME MON ESCLAVAGE and ICY EST MON SECRET, the monogram and motto of Marie Antoinette. The purse may have been associated with her or her court circle.