Reticule

This is a woman's reticule (purse). Reticules evolved in the eighteenth century as fashions became slender and pockets could no longer be hidden in the folds of skirts. Often made of luxurious fabrics like velvet and silk and embellished with ribbons and tassels, reticules were small and elegant.

Design
This reticule is made from beaded crochet attached to a ready-made hinged frame with chain handle. It may have held coins, or was possibly not used at all - it may have been purely ornamental. It was made in the mid nineteenth century, and would have been based on a pattern found in a popular women's magazine or knitting book.

Significance
Thousands of women made purses such as these for personal use or as gifts or novelties - sometimes donating them to fundraising causes.