Purse

Flat square purse of linen, the pattern embroidered with coloured silks and silver-gilt thread in tent, broad chain, plaited braid and cretan stitch, with applied pieces worked in detached buttonhole stitches and pieces of purl. The ground is worked with silver-gilt thread in plaited gobelin stitch. The seams and upper edges are oversewn with silver-gilt thread in plaited braid stitch. The purse is lined with blue taffeta. The narrow drawstring of plaited silk and metal thread has been rejoined and secured at the sides, to turn it into a handle. The top corners are decorated with interlaced loops wrapped in silver-gilt thread. The lower edge is trimmed with three small loops of silver thread, originally decorated with three tufts of silk and metal thread. Both sides are decorated alike with an upright sprig of rose, flanked by sprigs of cornflower and borage.

This type of satchel was called a 'sweetmeat' purse and was often given as a present. It could be filled with flower petals or perfumed cotton batting to impart a sweet-smelling scent.