This very tiniest glass beads ever, less than the #15, at just 1mm each, this bag must have hundreds of thousands. The work is both spectacular and very well preserved for age and type. I can find perhaps a couple tiny tiny glass beads missing, but it is a chore to locate, the overall impact of this one is so splendid. A rare early and tiny bead purse, 6.5" wide and tall, with 2 rare subjects worked in the colored glass and gold metal beads. You can see the maker worked in a monogram "T or I and B" and on the opposite side, "Souvenir" in gold beads. The bag would have had, I believe from experience, a delicate crochet band at the top rim with a double drawstring closure. Perhaps also a silk lining. I've shown the interior of the bag. So rare to find this gauge of beadwork, this fine condition, and the subjects on each side are just out of this world, aren't they! These can be found in various museum collections and they are usually referred to as a gentleman's tobacco pouch.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type. As noted, perhaps a silk lining at one time, and a silk thread crocheted upper trim through which a couple of drawstrings would have woven as closure. I'm unsure, however, if this one ever had been finished, or perhaps just kept at this stage. It seems to me not to have ever been used, the condition is so fine. Look it over. Lots of photos, all angles of view. The side seams and bottom all are intact, excellent. Rare superb find, purchased from a French estate, anonymous, I am inclined to think it could be English, German or French. Certainly a museum quality purse, bag, heavy in the hand.
