Collection Highlights
Tontine Coffee House, N.Y.C.
ca. 1797
1907.32
oil on linen, lined to fiberglass
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Museum Collections
Luce Center
Cloth purse w/pin
Title
Cloth purse w/pin
Object name
Purse
Date
1740-1795
Medium
Wool, linen
Dimensions
Overall: 4 x 7 1/4 in. ( 10.2 x 18.4 cm )
Description
Gentleman's purse (or pocketbook) of horizontal rectangular design in multicolored worsted woolen flame stitch in a Bargello (also called "Irish work") prickly pine design on a linen canvas ground; top flap closure of three green wool twill tape straps, left, right and center, joined together at the bottom of the center strap; edges ferreted (18th Century term for edging a textile with fabric tape) in green woolen twill tape; lined with green glazed linen consisting of two compartments having gusseted sides; the exterior underside below pocket flap is initialed in red cross-stitching "M G".
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. J. Insley Blair
Object Number
1944.303
Gallery Label
The accession record notes that the pocketbook was used for Continental money.
These purses were handmade and were usually carried by gentlemen to hold currency and documents.
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
