Historical information

The Kew Historical Society's Fashion & Design collection includes a small and representative collection of reticules, purses and handbags, purchased, inherited or collected by members of the Society. These items date from the Nineteenth and Twentieth centuries, and conform to fashions and styles popular during the period of their use. Some of the items are handmade, while others are mass-produced commercial products.

Physical description

Beaded reticule with a fringe and handle of blue class beads. The internal prose has a blue silk lining and a pink silk outer encased in beaded net. Based on an examination of the fabric, the reticule has been dated to the 1880s.