Kralenbeursje - Purse

Museum-grade, antique beaded banquet purse (kralenbeursje) from the Netherlands, dating to around 1830, representing a outstanding example of nineteenth-century artistic craftsmanship from the Biedermeier era. The purse was made using an extremely labor-intensive technique of hand knitting on needles with thousands of microminiature glass seed beads (so-called sabotkralen). The central part of the composition is adorned with a classical, richly shaded rose motif, enclosed in decorative frames of geometric patterns dominated by beautiful shades of blue and navy with gold-brown accents. The whole is finished with a finely crafted, snap-fastening clasp in old silver of fineness 833. On the inner side of the metal frame is preserved a complete set of rare original Dutch assay marks, including a legible “sword” mark (zwaardslag) used between 1814–1906 for smaller silver wares, the official annual letter (jaarletter) specifying the period of production, and a unique master mark (meesterteken) of the silversmith in the form of the monogram “I.S.” An additional historical value is the initials of the first owner, hand-engraved next to the punches. The interior of the purse is lined with the original light textile lining, preserved in very good condition with no wear or holes, combined with a decorative purple passementerie trim. The piece is characterized by an excellent weave structure 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 vintage artisanal silverware.