Multi-colored beaded bag of cotton, glass and metal beads in the Egyptian style of objects found in Tutankhamen’s tomb. The design is of a lotus flower motif with a winged scarab near the top. The pocketbook is oblong but comes to a point at the bottom where there are five equally spaced beaded tassels. The purse closes with a drawstrings and the beading is in black, blue, green, orange, yellow and silvery grey. The same design covers both the front and back.

There is one other image of this object. See our image rights statement.

See more objects with the tag container, personal, women's fashion accessories, Egypt, handheld, scarab.

See more objects with the color darkslategrey dimgrey darkslategrey saddlebrown grey or see all the colors for this object.

Object Timeline

1910	Work on this object began.
1930	Work on this object ended.
1988	We acquired this object.
2014	We photographed this object. We photographed this object.
2017	We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

Object ID #18628067

This is a Purse. It is dated 1910–30 and we acquired it in 1988. Its medium is cotton, glass and metal beads and its technique is stitching on black cotton machine-made net; chain stitch using a hook and block cotton threaded with glass beads. It is a part of the Textiles department.

The discovery of the Ancient Egyptian King Tutankhamen’s tomb in 1922 set off a frenzy for the visual imagery of ancient Egypt that penetrated every facet of design.
The winged scarab and lotus flower motifs of this purse were found on many of the tomb’s opulent artifacts. These motifs were particularly popular with luxury jewelry designers such as Cartier, who rendered them in precious stones and metals, echoing Tutankhamen’s own resplendent jewels.
While this purse was crafted of more modest materials, its motifs signified nonetheless that the wearer was up to date with the latest in fashion and style.

This object was donated by Mrs. Dorothy T. Globus. It is credited Gift of Dorothy Twining Globus.

Scarab (USA)
mold-blown favrile glass.
Museum purchase through gift of K.R. Gerry.
1958-51-1

Egyptian Revival Style Biscuit Tin
offset lithograph on tin.
1990-93-4-a,b

Egyptian Motifs Matchsafe
brass.
Gift of Stephen W. Brener and Carol B. Brener.
1978-146-611

Our curators have highlighted 2 objects that are related to this one.

Purse with Egyptian ornament Purse
gold mesh, turquoise.
Gift of Frederick Saal in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Saal.
1991-160-9

A rectangular vanity case with a mother-of-pearl plaque on the front that is engraved with black Egyptian hieroglyphs and cartouches down each side and flanked by coral columns, with onyx and coral capitals and diamond bases. In the bottom half of the plaque is a rectangular panel of royal blue lapis lazuli, on top of which is a turquoise-blue Egypitan faience figurine, whose eyes are closed and who appears to be playing a double pipe. The figurine squats on a rectangular base encrusted with diamonds, which sits on a stepped onyx platform. Above the lapis lazuli panel is a large tulip-shaped decoration of coral, onyx and diamond. The top of the vanity case tapers in slightly and is made from coral with gold stripes, on top of which sits a platform of onyx with a smaller lapis lazuli panel above.The case is attached to an onyx ring by a double strand of leather held to it with decorative diamond, lapis lazuli, coral and onyx clasps of both circular and pyramidal shapes.

Object ID #1042155095
gold, platinum, engraved mother-of-pearl plaques, egyptian blue faience....
Lent by Cartier Collection, Inv. VC 64 A24.
86.2016.8

Its dimensions are

H x W (including handle): 50.8 × 17.1 cm (20 × 6 3/4 in.)

Cite this object as

Object ID #18628067; cotton, glass and metal beads; H x W (including handle): 50.8 × 17.1 cm (20 × 6 3/4 in.); Gift of Dorothy Twining Globus; 1988-23-1

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition The Jazz Age: American Style in the 1920s.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2Dttz/
Accession Number 1988-23-1
Object ID 18628067