help dating this Crocheted / woven tasseled bag

Pinkcoke

Pinkcoke

Alumni
This just caught my eye, first thought was that it was hand made in the 70's maybe from a kit? with the wine colour (much deeper than most of the pics shown) but the interior fabric print doesn't match up, it feels like a heavyweight cotton perhaps upholstery type fabric and just feels older, and I am aware the shape/design harks back to a much older style found on beaded bags so I wondered how old you thought this was. I think the handle is crocheted, the main body is woven like I used to do as a child with wool over string (only this is much more complex!) though I don't know how this shape is achieved. I haven't got the right book to look in right now but I wonder if anything like this was made around the 30's/40's?

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Thanks Ruth, you know I kept thinking it has those art deco style 'rays' but didn't want to say it might be earlier and look stupid!
Did you keep or sell yours? I've no idea if there's a market for these, I just picked it up as a curio.
 
Thank you Ruth, incidentally I've just managed to find an example in a period photograph, dated 1918, from Roseann Ettinger's book 'Handbags'. It looks almost Arabian the way they've presented it, especially with her outfit of a white long sleeved dress and matching crocheted belt. Don't know if I can post the picture.
 
It is lovely, and I loved mine too. don't think I'd call it Art Deco though, despite the sunrays. It's a bit early, and a bit too organic in style, for that, especially if you've now an example from 1918. I referred to the Arts & Crafts movement when I listed mine.
 
You're welcome Ruth.

Carrie the condition was one of the things that confused me regarding the age, it doesn't look a day old! Even the tassel ends which are only twisted and not tied aren't fuzzy at all. I'm going to do a fibre test and see what it is.
 
I'll be curious to see the results of a burn test also. While this is definitely not a strong area for me, I've been thinking about the purse, and I see more 1970's than 1918. The lining reminds me of multi-purpose/upholstery weight fabrics that were available in the 1970's. There are some subtle differences between the one that Ruth found and yours - including the materials used, the pattern of the weave and the design of the strap. I may be completely wrong - but that's my feeling about it.
 
While the shape of this home-made bag is similar to Ruth's this style was also replicated during the Forties. The crochet strap is very typical. I think the purse may have been woven on a simple circular frame or spool knitting frame. What you see as Art Deco rays are warp threads radiating from the placing of the pins probably nails. I've seen an ad for a French spool frame which would also result in a very similar shape. There is probably a pattern for this out there somewhere. The lining does look later than the 1920's.
 
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