Originally, the functions of a purse were performed by a fabric pouch that was tightened at the top with a special drawstring. This made it nearly impossible to lose either large metal coins or small change. Such purses were used to carry not only money but also special folding scales with small weights. These were required so that the owner could accept not only money as payment but also precious stones and metals, after making an assessment.
In Ancient Egypt, the purse took the form of a fabric bag that was attached to the side. Images of such purses have been found by researchers on frescoes. This purse served not only as a container for money but also as a storage for precious stones or herbs. In ancient China and Japan, a cord served as a purse. At that time, coins were distinguished by the holes made in the middle. The cord was simply threaded through the holes, and the value could only be determined by its weight.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the purse worn on the belt became an attribute primarily of women’s clothing. Women carried their purses under the outer skirt, where a special slit was made for convenience. The men’s purse, on the other hand, changed when clothing with pockets became available.
Wallets and purses of the 19th century became quite diverse. Long-shaped purses with metal frames and purses in six- or eight-sided shapes came into fashion. An exhibit from the collection of the Nizhny Lomov Museum of Local Lore was created during this period.
The item on display in the museum was made from fabric and embroidered with flowers using beads. Plant motifs in the decoration of household items remained quite popular in the 19th century. The language of flowers became popular both in Europe and in the Russian Empire. People started playing the game “Flirt of Flowers”, during which participants conveyed coded messages using cards with various flowers and their implied meanings. In 1830, a translated edition of “Selam, or the Language of Flowers” by the Russian poet Dmitry Petrovich Oznobishin was published. The colors that seamstresses embroidered with beads on the purses could reveal a great deal about the owner of the item.
