This is a beautiful;l silk bag, heavily hand embroidered with metallic thread, for a very raised pattern. It was made in India back in the days before the end of the empire. The workmanship is superb.
It is a box style, with a short metallic cord handle. The flap covers the front completely, opening to reveal a plain black. It is a bit larger than the average evening bag, maybe large enough to carry opera glasses, cigarettes or a variety of cosmetic supplies. Now it could hold all those electronic devices and keys.
Whatever you use it for, it is a beautiful art piece.
You can't have too many bags, shoes or scarves.
It is from the Sarah Elizabeth Glover collection.
I was recently able to purchase several hundred pieces from a collection that had been a lifetime's passion for a ninety year old woman. Sarah Elizabeth Glover came to this small town from Santa Barbara California in the 70's, where she and her husband Ray, had operated a costume rental business for many years. They were also avid folk dancers and soon started a massive collection of ethnographic clothing.
Upon moving here, they opened an ethnographic museum and Sarah Elizabeth continued to collect for her already extreme collection of Victoriana, Edwardian, and authentic costumes from all countries. Her folk dancing colleagues were happy to support her in her pursuit of the unusual as they traveled to different countries.
As the passionate collector and operator of a museum, Sarah Elizabeth was fastidious in her care for the items, cycling the items on display regularly with others stored carefully, to prevent hangar fatigue and environmental damage. As a costume designer and expert seamstress, she would mend the mendable and embrace the beauty of antique wear.
Even when her 22 room Victorian home was stuffed to the gills, she didn't quit, and her encyclopedic memory and wealth of knowledge never failed her until her death at age 92.
I will be presenting items from this collection slowly but surely. I am selling these pieces as collectible art, not necessarily something to be worn. The beauty of the workmanship, and the hours of skilled labor, is and of itself of incredible value. In a world of the mass produced and disposable, these items will never be created again except at great expense by a handful of highly skilled and well trained costumers.
What goes around, comes around
Love of beauty and quality is happiness
Shipping is standard mail which is not so slow in North America but snail pace everywhere else. If you need faster, please advise and I will adjust the cost. Combined shipping is always available, usually the second item ships free depending on size and weight.
Please feel free to ask any questions.
refunds are only given if the item has been seriously misrepresented.
shipping costs paid by customer.