glass bead purse

[Thyria Wilson]

Hi,
The Beck Archives at the University of Denver was given a beaded purse from Slovakia (per label) that was sold in the Golden Eagle Dry Goods Store in Denver, Colorado. I need help in identifying the approximate date and any other details about the purse. The store was started in 1879 and closed in 1940. The drawstring purse is 22 cm. in length (excluding tassel), 10 cm. wide at the top, and 4 cm. wide at the bottom. I am attaching a photo of the purse. If anyone can help me out so I can cataloge the purse, I will be very grateful.
Thyria Wilson
rchivist

 

[Pinkcoke]

I do not have experience in this area but from reading Roseann Ettinger's 'Handbags' this would have been known as a beaded reticule and could date from the 1910's-20's. A quote that seems to refer to your bag style in particular reads "Swag or shaggy bead designs were popular in the second decade of the twentieth century and usually were made in the drawstring reticule style or wrist strap style. Beading bags employing somewhat larger glass beads on a net ground were common in the 1920s and most of the bags were made in Czechoslovakia and Germany..."
Hopefully one of our members with personal experience handling older bags will offer their opinion.

 

[Jonathan]

Before late 1918 Czechoslovakia didn't exist and Slovak was used to describe a people not a region, so it has to date after 1918.