Go back

Purse

Object/Artifact
Purse with engraved silver clasp and chamois-like beige body. The purse clasp includes a ring and an attached hook. The hook is a darker metal, unadorned and does not match the workmanship of the purse frame. The leather bag is stitched with various colors of heavy, non-matching thread, suggesting it is the lining and not meant to be seen.
purse front, the bag's leather material has a horizontal cut below the clasp
back, no decoration on the clasp purse open, purse open with bar that seperates the two sections standing up close up of clasp front with stylized birds makers marks inside clasp screenshot of a similiar silver bag with bird motifs belived to be of Dutch origin

2024.15.01

In Brown family tradition, Beatrice and Dick Brown's great, great, great grandfather Brown married Mary Archibald, who was the daughter of Alexander Montgomery (Montgomerie) who left Eglinton Castle in Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, Scotland to come to America.

Family History

Winthers, Sally

not including ring and hook

10 in

7 in

145 Brown, Finch and Edson family

Poor

The decorative cover for the bag portion is missing. Metal components are in excellent condition. The front of the leather pouch is cut and shows signs of repair attempts. Dried, yellowed adhesive tape that was no longer sticking to the cut in the leather has been removed. Item has been wrapped in tissue paper and backed with a supporting board to ease stress on the leather. Photos have been sent to the National Museum of Scotland for more information.

Brown, Richard M. "Dick" 1916-1988Finch, Beatrice Marquita “Bee” (Brown) 1907-2005

Reply to April 2024 inquiry about the purse, emailed to National Museums Scotland: Dear Sally (if I may) Thank you for contacting National Museums Scotland with your recent enquiry regarding your purse. Based on similar examples that we have within our collection I would argue that this is a 19th century coin purse and not a sporran. However, that isn't to say it wasn't used as a sporran. As for whether it is Scottish, an easy way to establish this would be if there was a Scottish maker's mark, or better yet a Scottish hallmark. What makes things difficult is that there was a habit in the late 19th and early 20th century to recreate older examples of items such as this one. I hope I have been able to help you with your enquiry, if you have any further questions then please do not hesitate to contact me. Best wishes Oliver Taylor Assistant Curator of Modern and Contemporary History Scottish History and Archaeology Department National Museums Scotland Edinburgh EH1 1JF [email protected] Subsequent internet searches by Sally found many examples of similar silver purse frames with belt hooks, mostly of Dutch origin, circa 1850-1910.

04/04/2024

04/11/2024