High Quality Antique Victorian French Gold Purse

Antique jewellery object group: High-Quality Purse

Condition: very good condition

Country of origin: France

Style: Victorian – Victorian decorative arts refers to the style of decorative arts during the Victorian era. The Victorian era is known for its eclectic revival and interpretation of historic styles and the introduction of cross-cultural influences from the middle east and Asia in furniture, fittings, and Interior decoration. Victorian design is widely viewed as having indulged in a regrettable excess of ornament. The Arts and Crafts movement, the aesthetic movement, Anglo-Japanese style, and Art Nouveau style have their beginnings in the late Victorian era.

Style specifics: The Grand Victorian Period – Experts divide the reign of Queen Victoria, also called The Victorian era (1837 – 1901) into three periods of about twenty years each; The Romantic Victorian Period (1837 – 1860), The Grand Victorian Period (1860 – 1880), and the Late or Aesthetic Victorian Period (1880 – 1901).

We consider this to be of the Grand Victorian Period.

This second Victorian period is famous for its ostentatious pieces set with pearls and diamonds (from South Africa). From ca. 1850 wealthy English had reported about jewellery from India and Japan, which heavily inspired the jewellers of this period. This period also corresponds with the death of Queen Victoria’s husband King Albert making mourning jewellery (set with heavy dark stones) the type of jewellery specific for this period.

Period: ca. 1890

Source of inspiration: Hand engraved decorations on both sides

Material: 18ct yellow gold (touchstone tested)

Technique: Mail or maille is a type of armour consisting of small metal rings linked together in a pattern to form a mesh.

Hallmarks: The French control mark representing the head of Mercury that was in use in France from about 1879.

Dimensions: width 4,56 cm (1,80 inch) – See picture with a ruler in cm and inches

Weight: 53,70 gram (34,53 dwt)