Mother of Pearl and Abalone Shellwork Purse c1880

Description

Heading : Mother of pearl purse
Date : c1870-1890
Period : Victoria 
Origin : England
Decoration : Diamond design shellwork. Silk lined with ten internal pockets
Size :  Height 10.8cm. width 7.5cm
Condition : Excellent. no chips or cracks. Catch and hinges all fully functional
Restoration : None
Weight : 82 grams 

It is always very pleasing when an an antique may be given a new purpose. When this wallet or purse was made the first Diners Club plastic card was still 60 or 70 years away. But this really is the the perfect wallet for all those plastic cards. drivers license and discount cards that are foisted upon us. An ideal gift from the past to the modern era.

The Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham was known internationally for this type of work. They supplied everyone form the Tsars of Russia to the New York elite. The “shellwork” business grew from the early 19th century in tandem with the jewellery sector and employed more than three hundred people at peak. The shells were all imported. mostly from the South Atlantic and Pacific and thus the location of Birmingham. being more than 100 miles from the sea. was itself insignificant. The industry was still supplied boat. drawn along the network of canals.