A very attractive French red velvet purse / sewing bag. c1870-1880.
The purse is in excellent condition with little to no loss to the velvet pile or to the embroidery on both sides of it and the gilt metal mounts are bright. Inside it is subdivided into three sections lined with cream coloured moire fabric-a little fitted bag for small pieces of work in progress or a hankie perhaps, a set of sewing tools and also a purse accessed by moving two clips on the sewing tool pad.
The tools are gilt base metal and comprise a bodkin, a file, a pair of scissors, a thimble, a button hook and a needle case. There is a little light rusting where some of the tools fit under the loops but none elsewhere and the gold embroidery is duller than it would have been originally but still looks good.
The metal is stamped with a 'W' and 'Brevete' indicating it is French.
14 x 8cm minus the chain.
Stock no. LE48