Name/Title
European Landscape Beaded HandbagContext
European Landscape Beaded Bag, c. 1920s-1940s
8.5 x 6.75 in.
Gift of Dorothy Knox Howe Houghton, 2020.01.02
This 1920s-1940s medium size handbag has a beaded Alps-style village scene. The bag is constructed in a drawstring style with gold cording and features small, brightly colored and intricate beading. The beading appears to depict a European style villa amongst mountains and bodies of water.
The interior of this bag consists of a cream satin with six individual pockets, two of which close with metal snap buttons. This was very common in the 1930s, as women began to carry more and more personal items with them everyday. Because of this, many bags were constructed with sewn in compartments customized by size to hold specific items, like lipstick, cigarettes, mirrors, or money.Acquisition
Accession
2020.01Source or Donor
Adele Houghton, Rowena DaschAcquisition Method
Gift