Huge 7"x10.5" Old Victorian BLACK JET BEADED BAG; Purse

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Double your traffic. Payment | Shipping | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Huge 7"x10.5" Old Victorian BLACK JET BEADED BAG; Purse Album This is quite an pretty beaded bag. It is very old, and is in a very large size. The beads seem to be a combination of black glass and I think black jet. Layaway is available on this lovely purse, which would be appreciated by anyone who collects beaded bags and enjoys restoring them. It would be a thoughtful gift for Christmas. Our layaway program is free, without any hidden fees. We can work out a plan with you if you would rather pay for an item in installments. Please contact us for more information about making payments and we will be able to figure something out with you. Thank you for looking at our auction! This bag was made in the Victorian era. The body of the bag has thousands of black beads. There are also black glass beads that form a fringe along the bottom of the bag Jet as a gem material was highly popular during the reign of Queen Victoria , during which the Queen wore Whitby jet as part of her mourning dress. Jet was popular for mourning jewelry in the 19th century because of its somber color and modest appearance, and it has been traditionally fashioned into rosaries for monks. Jet has also been known as black amber, as it may induce an electric charge like that of amber when rubbed. Jet is very easy to carve but it is difficult to create detail without breaking so it takes some time for learning and executing more elaborate carving.This bag is not without its problems. It is missing several strips of beads, on the body of the bag. The fringe looks good, though, and I do not think any beads are missing there. There are also several rips in the bag; the worst is on the back side, and is 3 1/4 long and runs across the width. (The black silk lining of the bag is not damaged in any way though, just the beadwork that lays on top of it). It could be sewn back together. Most of the other rips that need stitching are about 1" long.The inside of the bag is lined with black silk. The lining is is in good condition, without any rips, tears or frayed areas. The bag has a black ribbon drawstring closure. Here are the measurements of this lovely bag, laying flat: It is a much larger size than is usually seen. It measures 8 1/2" long, not including the fringe, not including the ribbon handles. The fringe loops add another 2". It is 7" across at the widest point, and 4 3/4" wide at the top. It is heavy with all the beading & weighs about 6 ounces. Please You will be able to clearly see the detail of this bag and the beads. A picture is worth a thousand words! We will be listing 10 antique mesh and beaded bags in the coming week or so. Please check our auctions again if you would be interested in seeing them. And we can work out a layaway plan with you if you would rather pay for an item in installments. Thank you for looking at our auction! Here is some information about the history of the beaded bag: Beaded bags, whether handcrafted or commercially produced, have been in vogue in North America for well over 200 years and in Europe for much longer. In the late 1300s, the English poet Geoffrey Chaucer described one in "The Miller's Tale," the story of a love affair between an Oxford student and a carpenter's wife. Of the female character he wrote: "By her belt hung a purse of leather tasseled with green and beaded with Italian beads." Along with being museum pieces, beaded bags are highly prized in collectors' circles where they command high prices. The greatly coveted beaded works were of such value that, in the early 1800s, the patterns used to make them were jealously guarded as family secrets passed down through generations. Beaded bags from the middle of the 19th century were almost always made with very small, very fine beads -- up to 1000 beads/square inc... read more

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