Reticule or handbag

Accessories

Reticule or handbag

second quarter of the nineteenth century

This reticule is made of striped silk fabric in tones of cream, yellow, and green. It closes with green drawstring ribbons. The donor believed that the silk fabric, with its delicate floral design, came from France. The lining, however, is a coarse brown cotton probably bought locally. The bag was assembled by hand with corded seams at the sides and bottom; the green silk that covered the cord has worn away in many places indicating that this little bag saw heavy use.

Sarah Rose Williams (1822-1854), who was a descendant of Roger Williams, once owned this reticule. The Williams family lived in Providence, Rhode Island, in a house on George Street that was near the Brown University campus.

L: 7 3/4" x W: 8 1/2" (excluding ribbons) (19.8 cm; 21.7 cm)

Donor: Franklin Cushman, Cushman Collection

URI 1952.63.10

Daija Jackson