Unsigned - Purse
04
days
13
hours
57
minutes
29
seconds
Current bid
€ 1
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Selected by Elena Napoleone
Holds a bachelor's degree in history of art and architecture, with 12 years of experience in decorative arts.
Estimate € 250 - € 300
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Murano glass bead evening bag from the 1920s, made in Italy, embroidered on both sides with an outdoor scene and two figures, features a gold‑tone metal clasp, a double chain of 39 cm, a pure silk lining with period passementerie, and measures 20 cm in height by 19 cm in width, in good condition with some signs of wear.
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Description from the seller
Murano Glass Beads Bag - a 1920s purse.
The art of glass beadwork, which includes the work of the 'impiraresse', the bead-stringers, was recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2020. These bags made with Murano glass beads are found in museum collections and are collected for their craftsmanship and historical importance:
- Murano Glass Museum (Venice)
- The Glass Rooms (Venice)
- Musée des Arts Décoratifs (Paris)
- Corning Museum of Glass (New York)
- Vitromusée Romont (Switzerland)
- Glass Heritage Centre in Krosno (Poland)
- Riedel Kufstein Museum (Austria)
This handbag is embroidered on both sides with an outdoor scene and two human figures. New, never used, it has a metal closure with a gold finish, enriched by lacework. The double chain is 39 cm long. The interior is lined in pure silk with period tassels, all handmade.
The microbead creations, called 'counter beads' (seed beads), were made exclusively by Venetian women, who threaded the seed beads using long steel needles. The beads were then worked on ancient looms to create intricate designs, fringes and floral motifs typical of the era: a thousand micro glass beads every 7 cm².
They required months of work and were regarded as true works of artisanal craft, symbols of Venetian tradition. Between the late 19th century and the 1920s–1930s, Venice maintained the monopoly on exporting seed beads that were in demand worldwide.
This purse will be shipped with very careful packaging.
Murano Glass Beads Bag - a 1920s purse.
The art of glass beadwork, which includes the work of the 'impiraresse', the bead-stringers, was recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2020. These bags made with Murano glass beads are found in museum collections and are collected for their craftsmanship and historical importance:
- Murano Glass Museum (Venice)
- The Glass Rooms (Venice)
- Musée des Arts Décoratifs (Paris)
- Corning Museum of Glass (New York)
- Vitromusée Romont (Switzerland)
- Glass Heritage Centre in Krosno (Poland)
- Riedel Kufstein Museum (Austria)
This handbag is embroidered on both sides with an outdoor scene and two human figures. New, never used, it has a metal closure with a gold finish, enriched by lacework. The double chain is 39 cm long. The interior is lined in pure silk with period tassels, all handmade.
The microbead creations, called 'counter beads' (seed beads), were made exclusively by Venetian women, who threaded the seed beads using long steel needles. The beads were then worked on ancient looms to create intricate designs, fringes and floral motifs typical of the era: a thousand micro glass beads every 7 cm².
They required months of work and were regarded as true works of artisanal craft, symbols of Venetian tradition. Between the late 19th century and the 1920s–1930s, Venice maintained the monopoly on exporting seed beads that were in demand worldwide.
This purse will be shipped with very careful packaging.
Details
Era
1900-2000
Brand
Unsigned
Colour
Blue, Gold, Green, Multicolour, Pink
Material
Glass, Metal, Silk
Made in
Italy
Pattern
Embroidered
Condition
Good condition, used with some signs of wear
Height
20 cm
Width
19 cm
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