18th Century purse

The earliest items in the Collection date from the 18th century. 

This purse form the 18th century combines knitting in fine red silk at the top and crochet in metallic thread on the lower part, with couched metallic thread wound into a circle at the based.

The Collection contains many different types of purses but most are later than this fine example. The use of both knitting and crochet in one item is unusual.