A charming late 19th-century French coin purse, beautifully made with shaped mother-of-pearl covers and retaining its wonderfully rich original interior.

Dating to approximately c.1880–1900, the front is finely carved with a striking geometric design, combining radiating lines with a central cross-form motif. The natural mother-of-pearl has a beautiful soft lustre and flashes of pink, green and silver as it catches the light.

A tiny metal push-button clasp opens to reveal the original deep plum-purple silk concertina interior, ingeniously arranged into expanding compartments for separating coins. The contrast between the luminous pale mother-of-pearl and jewel-coloured interior is particularly lovely.

This is a genuine antique piece and shows the expected signs of its long life. There is wear and deterioration to areas of the silk and internal fittings, along with general age-related wear to the case, all of which can be seen in the photographs. The mother-of-pearl remains very attractive with its carved decoration clearly defined.

These small purses were elegant personal accessories, designed to slip discreetly into a lady’s handbag or pocket while keeping different coins separated.

A beautiful little piece of French social and fashion history, lovely for a collection of antique purses, mother-of-pearl objects or simply displayed amongst other treasured curiosities.

Date: c.1880–1900

Origin: France

Material: Mother-of-pearl, silk and metal fittings

Dimensions: 6 × 4.5 × 1.2 cm

Condition: Antique condition with age-related wear, particularly to the original silk interior. Please refer closely to the photographs.