Antique Victorian Hand-Beaded Reticule Evening Bag, 1870s

1870s antique Victorian gold-washed expandable hand-beaded reticule evening bag. A hinged oval lid embellished with a bezel-set green-swirled Peking glass cabochon secures an expandable accordion band; from this is suspended a pleated intricately-woven chamber of amber seed beads, finished at the bottom with a thick tassel of looped seed beads. An etched ring chain attached to the accordion with large o-rings comprises the handle. An upper-class Victorian lady would have dangled this from her gloved hand as she attended her evening’s entertainments. The beading is impeccable — no snags, gaps, missing beads, or loose strings; it is extremely rare to find one of these as unblemished and intact as this one is. It will make an elegant and singular addition to your most gracious evening wear! Dimensions: 9.5″L x 2.25″W (closed); chain handle, 12″L; top, 1.25″L x 2.25″W