Antique Silver Purse
When you search for an antique silver purse, you are looking at tactile pockets of precious metal and textile from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries designed to hold coins, cards, and small accessories.
Antique Silver Purse
An antique silver purse encompasses a wide variety of personal accessories spanning the Victorian, Edwardian, and Art Deco eras, including sovereign cases, coin purses, evening bags, and cocktail purses. You will frequently encounter small hinged or mesh pieces designed for evening wear, alongside compact combination cases and vanity items.
The objects originate from British assay offices such as Birmingham, London, and Chester, alongside continental European workshops and Chinese export silver production. These pieces reflect the changing social habits of their owners, transitioning from chatelaine accessories and coin holders to sleek pocket items for twentieth-century cosmetics.
Materials and Technique
Silversmiths utilised sterling silver and silver gilt, often combining the metal with structural materials like brass, glass, leather, and crocodile skin. Outer shells and frames were frequently cast, engine-turned, or hand-engraved with detailed motifs.
Interiors relied on fabric linings, including silk, suede, and beaded mesh, while decorative panels incorporated blue and polychrome guilloché enamel. Chain link and interlocking metal mesh required intricate manual assembly to achieve flexible yet durable construction.
Antique Silver Purse Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for silver purse among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Several Victorian coin holders were built so precisely that a stray sovereign would rattle until properly seated against the internal steel spring.
Evaluating Craftsmanship
The distinction between standard items and exceptional examples lies in the crispness of the chasing, the precision of engine-turned patterns, and the intact survival of enamel work. Hand-engraved pictorial scenes and repoussé panels demonstrate superior artisanal effort compared to plain polished surfaces.
Mechanism integrity dictates much of the standard, seen in the secure snap of a spring hinge, the precise alignment of a clasp, and the original pairing of internal fittings like mirror plates or coin slots. Maker marks from noted silversmiths further elevate the standing of a piece.
Charles Penny Brown·Aaron Lufkin Dennison·William Aitken·John Collard Vickery·Henry Williamson·The Boots Company·Robert Cawley·G. Norman·Henry Charles Freeman·William Adams Ltd·Wright and Davies·Ludwig Krumm·Mappin and Webb
The Antique Silver Purse Glossary
- Guilloché enamel
- A decorative technique where a precise, intricate geometric pattern is mechanically engraved into metal beneath a translucent layer of coloured enamel.
- Sovereign case
- A small pocket container specifically sized to hold British gold sovereign coins securely on a spring-loaded or hinged holder.
- Chatelaine
- A decorative belt hook or clasp worn from the waist from which keys, watches, and small purses were suspended by chains.
- Repoussé
- A method of metalworking where the silver is hammered into relief from the reverse side to create raised pictorial or ornamental designs.
- Cocktail purse
- A small evening bag or mesh case popular during the early twentieth century, designed to hold minimal items for social gatherings.
Antique Silver Purse: Frequently Asked Questions
What fits inside an antique silver purse?
These small evening accessories were originally designed for coins, calling cards, scent bottles, or small powder compacts. Modern users typically fit folded banknotes, credit cards, or lipstick inside.
Because internal space is limited by rigid metal frames and fitted leather compartments, they function best as evening bags rather than daily carriers.
How do I clean antique silver?
Sterling silver benefits from gentle wiping with a soft, dry microfibre cloth to remove surface dust without abrasive polishes. Avoid getting cleaning creams trapped inside fabric linings or delicate enamel recesses.
Enamelled and leather-backed pieces require extra care to keep moisture away from vulnerable joints and aged adhesives.
How do I date an antique silver purse?
British pieces feature hallmarks stamped directly into the metal, indicating the assay office, standard mark, and a specific date letter corresponding to the year of manufacture. Continental and unmarked items rely on stylistic clues such as Art Nouveau floral motifs or geometric Art Deco lines.
Comparing the clasp mechanism and interior fabric style against documented production periods helps narrow down the decade of creation.
Can I wear an antique silver purse daily?
While sturdy, these items possess delicate hinges, mesh links, and decorative enamel that can be damaged by heavy daily friction or knocks. They are best reserved for occasional evening use and special events.
Storing them in soft pouches prevents surface scratches and protects fragile leather or silk linings from undue wear.