Rare 19th Century Beaded Native American Purse

The colors are wonderful and indicative of the Period in a mocha-cum-rose background with very pretty pink, vanilla and green accents.

The letters LCW are beaded vertically within the hand loomed bead work.

The beading is to the front and carrying strap only on this purse, while the back is done in black polychrome silk with a grommet and envelope style opening.

The beaded carrying strap is beautifully detailed measuring 5" in length and rising 3" from the top of the bag. The body of this little gem measures 5" from the top of the purse to the bottom of the loop beaded fringe (or 8" from top of strap to bottom of fringe). The purse is just 2" wide!

CONDITION: The bead work is in exceptionally fine condition with no missing beads. Fringe is original, complete and amazingly fully intact.

The silk backing shows disintegration, commensurate with age and must be replaced if the bag is to be carried. While still in place, the silk has has tattered at the envelope fold and the threads attaching it to the front are near disintegration. I fear opening the grommet closure will result in further deterioration of the fabric. It will be a very simple restoration involving hand stitching a few inches of fine silk to the straight back replacing the original fabric. Native American, c early to mid 1800's.

This is by far the nicest early Native bag we've acquired to date. A wonderful find for the purse collector - or the collector of early Native American pieces!

The fact that the back will require replacing has been generously considered in the pricing of this purse.

Proud Members of The Antique Purse Society.

Item ID: R388