Featured Beaded purse... or?? Silk back completely worn.

At 10 cents, could not leave this, even with the damage. Main section approx 8" high. Is this an old purse --or some kind of outer cover for an item? The tassels seem more decorative than functional. Curious if anyone has seen similar. Thanks.

 

The shape and the fringing plus the tassels look like a Victorian Face fan although I don’t think yours is as old.There’s a pair on Antiques atlas. Sorry I can’t link.

 

nice save...for a dime !

 

That does look similar, Houseful. Thank you. Found the ones you referenced. Let me see if I can link.

https://www.antiques-atlas.com/antique/pair_of_victorian_beaded_face_fans_circa_1870/as700a1477

 

The fabric backing those is exactly like what I have. What is a face fan, though? Not like a regular fan, surely. Is it meant to be a screen? Would it have had a stand like the one in the link? Never run into these before!

 

It is a face screen, to protect the face from the glow of the fireplace. A red face was very unbecoming.
Many face screens were carried on a stick, just like rigid fans, hence the confusion. Others, like yours, were hung on elegantly turned stands, or brass stands like the ones in the link. These are also collected by fan collectors, and in spite of the damage, you got a real bargain.

Face screens on sticks were also used in carriages, so 'commoners' couldn't see your face. You could peep past the screen from time to time, of course.

 

When I saw it I thought of a larger pole screen. I would have called it a table face screen but the Antiques Atlas said fans and I assumed they knew better. Anyway looking again yours may indeed be Victorian as the material looks so similar. Nice find for tiny cost!

 

Well you learn something new everyday. Never heard of one before. Thank you.

 

That makes two of us!

 

Many thanks to Houseful and AJ for the identification.

 

I've heard of them and seen pictures, but never found one in person. Nice score!

 

Three of us!

 

Four of us.

 

just to add to this........it's not the same....but when i saw the tassels and what Houseful wrote...........well here's something........

https://www.vinterior.co/listings/v...eplace-panel-tassles-and-needlepoint-tapestry

 

Definitely one of a pair of Victorian face screens, would have been on stands originally as Any Jewelry said.
I have many pairs of these, if you're handy with a needle and have spare beads it wouldn't take much to tidy it up...Nice find and a bargain.

 

Great example, Komokwa.

Poison, I think would be a good project for someone ...else. I'm not a needle/thread kind of person. Can do it if absolutely necessary, but some people just love sewing, and find it so calming. (Not me.) Hopefully the person who gets this will fix it up.

Was interesting learning about Victorian face screens.

Thanks, all!

 

This is a pair I recently restored, as fast as I replaced beads more dropped off and I thought I would never get them finished.
There were holes in the canvas I couldn't see at first.
The little velvet Victorian flowers cover bad parts I couldn't do anything with.
Many many hours later they now look like this

 

nice work !!!!!

 

Thanks Komo

 

Unbelievable. They are gorgeous! What a nice job you did, Poisonivy.

Thank you for showing the before and after. Wish more folks could see this, they might not check into the thread as it's been around a bit. Will shout out to a few of us that claimed we hadn't seen many (or any) of these before:

@clutteredcloset49 @evelyb30 @pearlsnblume @Pat P