Beaded zip coin purse — rosette/sunburst medallion pattern

Name/Title

Beaded zip coin purse — rosette/sunburst medallion pattern

Entry/Object ID

2025.1.375

Description

Small flat rectangular coin purse densely surfaced in rounded plastic beads over fabric, with a top zipper (tan/beige tape, metal pull). The beadwork forms a row of large circular rosette/sunburst medallions (yellow centers ringed in red) linked by black zigzag/lattice motifs, over a ground of ivory, cream, and pale-yellow beads with a black-and-red dotted upper border. Back not shown. Beadwork largely intact with minor soiling; zipper functional.

Use

Belonged to Gertrudis Caraballo Gálvez

Context

A mid-20th-century novelty beaded coin/cosmetic purse of molded-plastic seed beads sewn over cloth — a type widely produced and exported from Eastern Europe (and Japan) in the 1950s–60s, comparable examples dated to the 1960s.

Collection

The Cabrera Arús family collection, Gertrudis Caraballo Gálvez collecition

Acquisition

Accession

2025.1

Made/Created

Notes

Date: circa 1960s; tentative (consistent with the type; within the collection period as an import). Place: Poland (tentative)

Dimensions

Height

8 cm

Width

14 cm

Depth

0.8 cm

Parts

Beaded body (front/back panels over fabric) with top zipper with pull.

Materials

Material

Beads, Fabric

Material Notes

Molded plastic beads on woven fabric backing; plastic zipper. Bead material plastic (mid-century type).

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Gertrudis Caraballo Gálvez

Notes

owner

Related Places

Place

City

Havana

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

use, acquisition

Research Notes

Notes

Type confirmed (mid-century plastic-bead zip coin purse; 1960s comparables on Etsy/1stDibs). Poland origin not corroborated.

Created By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Create Date

June 18, 2026

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

June 18, 2026