beaded metal frame purse - dating?

retro ruth

retro ruth

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Hello vintage peeps,

I got this lovely thing which I reckon is pre-WW2, but beyond that I am clueless. I've never seen one that opens with a circular top like this before - you press the jewel in the centre to release the catch. No labels or marking. The lining could be silk - it's quite a thick material. Can anyone help date it?

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Many thanks in advance.

Ruth
 
Oh, that's lovely! The top on that makes me think of those 20s vanity purses with a compact on top, but the filigree metal and aurora borealis rhinestone (if original) would suggest 50s or thereabouts... (AB rhinestones weren't "invented"--by Dior/Swarovski if my memory isn't totally scrambled today--till the 50s).

Also, the embroidered parts, in between the beads, I've seen in a lot of mid-century Belgian made purses and referred to as "tambour work".

Now I'll leave it to the purse experts to date precisely (and set you straight if I'm totally off the mark!)
 
The aurora borealis stone, (I'd forgotten what they were called!) does appear original, unless a replacement has been set in very expertly. I had wondered if that made it later. It is a bit incongruous to the rest of the purse though. There's no embroidery - it's all beading, the beads are white and pink and two shades of grey
 
I agree with mid-late '50's. Aurora Borealis stones were first used in 1953 but were not in common use until 1955. There were some stones that had an irridescent finish used much earlier but this one looks like it's an AB. I agree with Carrie on dating the filigree and the beading.

Linn
 
I think this purse may be late 30's not 1950's and possibly made in Czechoslovakia which also produced jewels and while this stone certainly looks like aurora borealis it could be a crystal or manufactured jewel.

It's the size and shape of the of the purse that is typical of the period. Belgium and France were also well known for producing these beaded purses.
 
Thanks vertuguard - I have to say I thought it was 30s, especially at this size.

It's hard to photograph the jewel - but perhaps I'll try another shot. The iridescence seems to be on the surface - in one place it's scratched off - if that means anything to anyone.

Ruth
 
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