Reticule or handbag

Accessories

Reticule or handbag

1820-1830

L: 4 3/4" x W: 4 1/2" (12.4 cm; 12.3 cm)
Circumference: 11 1/2" (29.5 cm)

This artifact is a small round bag intended to be held in the hand by ribbons attached to each end. The ribbons end in bows. The bag has an opening across its length to access the contents. The handbag’s outer fabric is a light brown silk taffeta, a color called “drab” in the early nineteenth century. It is lined in tan printed cotton with a leaf-like motif. The outer fabric is gathered to two round shapes at either end which are stiffened with heavy paper or cardboard. Each end piece has a floral design embroidered in pink and green silk. The bag is entirely hand sewn. The bag’s size made it functional only for small items such as coins and handkerchiefs. It was made at a time when handheld bags had begun to replace pockets, which had been worn under dresses since the late seventeenth century. Use of handbags initially faced resistance because people considered them to be akin to undergarments.

References

Victoria and Albert Museum (2013). A History of Pockets. Accessed at http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/history-of-pockets/.

Women's Museum of California (2017). The History of the Handbag. Accessed at https://womensmuseum.wordpress.com/2017/05/31/the-history-of-the-handbag/

Donor: Mabel Etta Streeter Perrin

URI 1965.07.12

Talia Sweenor

The Perrin Collection