Kralenbeursje - Purse

Museum-grade, a unique antique banquet purse (kralenbeursje) from the Netherlands dating to around 1830, representing an outstanding example of 19th-century artistic craftsmanship of the Biedermeier era. The pouch was made using an extremely labor-intensive technique involving hand-knitting on needles with thousands of microscopically small glass seed beads (so-called sabotkralen). The central part of the composition features a classic, richly shaded rose motif, set in decorative frames of geometric patterns dominated by beautiful shades of light blue and marine navy with gold-brown accents. The whole is finished with a finely crafted, opening snap-fastening clasp made of old silver, assay 833. On the inner side of the metal frame remains a complete set of rare, original Dutch assay marks, including a legible “sword” mark (zwaardslag) used from 1814–1906 for smaller silver wares, the official annual letter (jaarletter) specifying the time of creation, and the unique master mark (meesterteken) of the silversmith in the form of the monogram “I.S.” An additional historical value is the handwritten initials of the first owner kept beside the stamps. The interior of the purse is lined with an original light textile lining, preserved in very good condition, without wear or holes, combined with a decorative frame featuring purple textile piping. The item is characterized by an excellent structure of the old weave and a unique color palette, making it a highly sought-after and complete collectible object, ideal for advanced collections of antique fashion accessories, European textiles, or historic artisanal silverware.