Reticule is a small soft women’s handbag on a lace or a chain, decorated with embroidery, beads or rhinestones. The first reticules appeared in the 18th century, the founder of the fashion for such handbags is believed to be Marquise de Pompadour, a favorite of the French king Louis XV.

The very first reticules looked like rag or wicker bags. They were called “reticule”, which translates from the Latin word reticulum as the “net”. However, women of fashion preferred the consonant French ridicule - ridiculous - and it quickly adhered to handbags of this kind.

Reticules became especially popular in the 1790s, when in the women’s fashion Rococo style gave place to the Empire style. Dresses with lush long skirts were replaced with narrow and straight dresses with a high waist. While previously ladies could attach special handbags-pockets to the belt and hide them under the broad hem, with the new fashion one needed a handbag, which could be held in one’s hands.

They were used to keep bottles with perfume, mirrors and other accessories of the ladies' toilet. The top of the reticule could be tightened with a long silk or satin lace, which was convenient to wear on the hand. The rest of the things that might be needed during the day were worn by servants for the wealthy ladies.

In 1820 lush and heavy dresses returned to fashion. But because of the convenience, availability and beauty the reticules have not lost their popularity. They were sewn then even for wedding dresses.

In the last decade of the 19th century, they started to use new fabrics, such as velvet, organza, muslin and translucent cotton to sew garments. At the same time reticules ceased to look like an ordinary cloth bag and turned into a full-fledged accessory to the outfit.

Bags would be made to order and on their own. Each fashionista wanted her reticule to stand out from the rest. The material that the handbag is made of, and the jewelry could tell a lot about wealth of its owner. Reticules were embroidered with threads, decorated with beads, rhinestones, glass and precious stones. Rich ladies preferred to wear handbags made of velvet or suede.

In the 1900s they began to decorate reticules with metal inserts. Handles came into use to replace tightening laces - so new models of handbags appeared.

The museum’s reticule is supposedly made in the second half of the 19th century, the indicative of this is the suede base, which was in use for tailoring at that time. The bag is embroidered with small colored beads.