CROCHET, BAG

In Victorian England, handcrafts proliferated with instructions in popular women’s magazines. A novelty was a crocheted ring purse, a variation of the earlier miser’s purse.

This square purse, hand crocheted in blue cotton thread, has a flap which when lifted, enables one to pull out the front under section of the bag attached to 32 crocheted strings on a ring. This opens the purse to insert coins. Pulling up the ring, shuts the purse - the origin of the saying “to tighten the purse strings”.

The front of the flap has iridescent glass beads sewn on and a glass bead fringe.