The top edges of both sides are badly torn and full of holes. One of the biggest reasons for this is the size of the stitch the purse was knit with. Not all beaded purses are bead-knit the same. They are made with a combination of different sized needles and different silk thread weights. This is what determines the fluidity of the finished fabric. This purse had amazing fluidity because it was knit with a bit larger needle and a very fine silk. Of course, this made the purse far more delicate and the weight eventually tore at the top where it was sewn to the frame.
If this beauty could talk, oh the stories it would tell!
The discovery of King Tut's tomb in the early 1900's sparked a widspread fascination with Egyptian artifacts. Soon afterward, anything sporting an Egyptian motif was all the rage from jewelry and purses to perfume bottles and other vanity items. This segment in time is called the "Egyptian Revival Period."
This fabulous purse is a perfect example, showing detailed Egyptian figures, heiroglyphics and scarabs. The color combinations are outstanding, but the purse itself has suffered much dammage through the years.
