by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections, and Noël Grabow, Collections Assistant
April 14, 2025
Perhaps most associated with the Roaring 20s, beaded purses were in fact long a favorite accessory to add glitz and interest to any ensemble, day or night. They came in a variety of intricate designs and were often crafted by their owner.
Beaded purses were commonly created a few different ways. One very popular construction method was crocheting or knitting these decorative purses (in the 19th century at least, crocheting was much more common than knitting). In this technique, the purse could be made either by pre-beading the yarn or thread and then stitching normally, pushing the next bead forward with each stitch, or they could be made by adding a bead to each stitch as it was formed. Another method, tambour beading, combined crochet and embroidery techniques, using a very small hook and stitching beads to a fabric backing. The last of the techniques seen in MCHS collections, loom weaving, was done on a frame loom with beads woven in row by row.
Below is a selection of some of the most eye-catching pieces from MCHS collections. Spanning from the 19th century to the first half of the 20th, they are typically either glass or steel beads – although a few incorporate both.
Top photo: Crocheted glass bead purse with silk satin drawstring closure, mid-19th century
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