Lot Essay
A very similar purse in the Victoria & Albert Museum is illustrated by V. Wilson, Chinese Dress, London, 1989, p. 70, pl. 58.
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THIRD QUARTER 19TH CENTURY
Details
A FINE AND UNUSUAL WALLET-STYLE EMBROIDERD SILK PURSE
THIRD QUARTER 19TH CENTURY
Made as two flaps joined and backed by a strip of sky-blue satin with a black-bordered slit in the center which is covered when the purse is folded, both flaps stiffened, one finely embroidered in chain stitch with a central panel of a cricket with raised body amidst flowers surrounded by a border of auspicious motifs on a black silk ground, the other flap with key-fret borders surrounding a small attached ivory satin pouch embroidered as a butterfly, its wings with shou medallions flanking a small applied butterfly in the center, the cord with endless knot and cash tassels
9¼ in. (23.5 cm.) long unfolded
THIRD QUARTER 19TH CENTURY
Made as two flaps joined and backed by a strip of sky-blue satin with a black-bordered slit in the center which is covered when the purse is folded, both flaps stiffened, one finely embroidered in chain stitch with a central panel of a cricket with raised body amidst flowers surrounded by a border of auspicious motifs on a black silk ground, the other flap with key-fret borders surrounding a small attached ivory satin pouch embroidered as a butterfly, its wings with shou medallions flanking a small applied butterfly in the center, the cord with endless knot and cash tassels
9¼ in. (23.5 cm.) long unfolded
Provenance
Purchased London, late 1970s.