Victorian Repoussé Metal Coin Purse with Cherub Medallion

Clothing/Dress/Costume

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The Recorded Image Project

Name/Title

Victorian Repoussé Metal Coin Purse with Cherub Medallion

Description

Late Victorian round metal coin purse with repoussé cherub decoration and original leather body, featuring hinged lid and interior lining.

Use

Purse

Category

Late Victorian

Clothing/Dress/Costume Details

Article of Clothing/Dress/Costume

Purse

Textile Details

Material

Metal, Leather

Notes

Materials & Construction Exterior Frame Material: White metal (likely nickel silver or plated brass) Technique: Repoussé and die-stamped relief Decoration: Central medallion featuring cherub (putto) figure with surrounding foliate scrollwork Finish: Originally polished; now naturally darkened patina The relief appears machine-stamped rather than fully hand-chased, consistent with later 19th-century mass production. Body Material: Leather (likely kid or thin calf) Color: Originally brown or dark tan Condition: Severely dried, cracked, and degraded The leather has oxidized and contracted over time, which is typical for Victorian purse bodies. Interior Lining: Textile lining (possibly silk or cotton sateen originally) Visible wear and surface loss Hinged metal frame with latch closure The hinge construction is consistent with late 19th-century purse mechanisms. Decorative Motif The lid features: Classical-style cherub (putto) Laurel or foliate wreath border Rococo-inspired scrollwork Putti were extremely popular decorative motifs in Victorian decorative arts, referencing Renaissance and classical revival aesthetics.

Made/Created

Date made

circa 1870 - circa 1895

Time Period

Victorian

Notes

Many of these purses were: Produced in France, Germany, or England Exported widely Sold through department stores

Ethnography

Notes

This purse represents: Middle-class to upper-middle-class women’s daily accessories Carried for coins, calling cards, or small personal items Likely used for shopping, travel, or promenade Round metal-framed purses became popular in the second half of the 19th century as industrial stamping made decorative metal affordable. The cherub motif suggests: Sentimental and romantic decorative taste Influence of neo-Rococo revival

Condition

Overall Condition

Very Good

Date Examined

Feb 18, 2026

Notes

Metal lid: Good structural condition, heavy surface patina Relief design: Crisp and well-preserved Hinge: Functional (appears intact) Leather body: Significant deterioration and dryness Interior lining: Worn and discolored Condition is consistent with age (130–150 years).

General Notes

Note Type

Historical Note

Note

This late Victorian round coin purse features a repoussé white metal lid decorated with a central cherub medallion surrounded by scrolling foliate ornament. The hinged metal frame encloses a leather coin compartment, now heavily worn but original to the piece. The classical putto motif reflects the Victorian era’s fascination with Renaissance revival and romantic decorative themes. Industrial advances in die-stamping allowed such elaborately decorated metalwork to become widely available in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Compact purses like this were essential accessories for urban women, serving both practical and decorative functions. Despite deterioration of the leather body, the metal lid remains sharply defined, preserving the object’s aesthetic and historical character.

Create Date

February 18, 2026