At the beginning of the 20th century it became more common place for a lady to use a small bag or purse, these initially would be very small to hold such as coins on a Sunday for church, or maybe a visiting card for calling on ladies during the day.
 
This style of mesh purse became very fashionable at the beginning of the 1920s. It is made from a gilt chain mail and attached o the frame by small rings. The frame has an Etruscan stye decoration and a twist clasp, also a chain to enable the handbag or purse to be worn on the wrist. This would have been used by a lady of a reasonably good income, and would have been used as an evening bag.
 
There are no breaks to the chain mail. The gilding does have a little tarnish in parts.
 
Dimensions: 17cm x 15cm