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Reticule Banner Image

Don't Ridicule My Reticule!

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HomeExhibits and ProgramsOnline ExhibitsDon't Ridicule My Reticule!

 Illustration of 19th century woman with purse

Woman holding a purse in one hand, circa 1803 (France)
The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division Of Art,
Prints
 
And Photographs: Picture Collection, New York Public Library

Reticules were small drawstring bags used by Victorian women to hold necessary objects such as calling cards, money, and toiletries. These small bags were the first kind of handheld purse designed for women. Reticules are beautiful examples of the artistic handiwork at the time.


18th century tie on pocket

Pocket, circa 1784 (America)
Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art,
Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Bequest of Marie Bernice Bitzer, by exchange, 1996

Before the reticule was popularized, women tied pockets around their waists under their petticoats to carry belongings. The side seams of the dress were open, and the wearer could slip her hand through the layers of fabric to access the pockets. To learn more about the history of pockets, the Victoria and Albert Museum has a very interesting article on the subject.

Dress, circa 1775
Dress, circa 1837

Above: Dress, circa 1775 (French)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Isabel Shults Fund, 2005
Below: Dress, circa 1837 (American)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Rogers Fund, 1937

At the end of the 18th century, female fashion changed dramatically. The large, layered skirts went out of style and a slender dress silhouette became popular. As a result, women carried drawstring pouches that functioned as an exterior pocket. Decorative reticules often complemented the wearer’s dress.

Decorative reticules carried an assortment of essential objects for daily social activities. Such items may have included:

  • Brooch
  • Calling Cards
  • Change Purse
  • Coins
  • Comb
  • Earrings
  • Gloves
  • Hairpins
  • Handkerchief
  • Mirror
  • Necklace
  • Patch Box  
  • Pocket Watch
  • Ring
  • Scent Bottle
  • Smelling Salts

Early 19th century male critics ridiculed the reticule, claiming that women would overstuff the bags, which were meant to be small and delicate.

The reticules featured in this exhibit are from the Belleville area, dating between 1890 and 1930. They are part of Glanmore's Regional Collection. Many artifacts from Glanmore's collections can be discovered on the online artifact database. 

Multicoloured reticule

Reticule, circa 1890

This reticule is hand beaded on two layers of blue silk. The beadwork designs show multi-coloured images of flowers and a scene of houses and trees. There are blue beaded tassels at the bottom and a classic drawstring closure at the top.

Many reticules feature glass or steel beadwork. Reticules were commonly made of velvet, satin or silk in square or tulip-shapes. They were often handmade by fashionable women to display their handiwork.

 

Black beaded reticule

Reticule, circa 1890

This reticule is made of black satin and velvet. There is purple beadwork across the middle section, with crocheted lace at the top and a beaded tassel at the bottom.

“Most late-twentieth-century women would have felt lost without a handbag, that valuable accessory in which a woman carried all the paraphernalia seemingly indispensable to her daily life.” - Eleanor Johnson, Ladies’ Dress Accessories

 

Black beaded reticule

Reticule, circa 1890

This black satin reticule is decorated with artistic silver metal beadwork. It was crafted by a local dressmaker and milliner (someone who makes or sells hats). The term “reticule” comes from French and Latin terms meaning “net.” At the time, the word “purse” referred to small leather pouches used for carrying money.

 

Black embroidery reticule

Reticule, circa 1890 – 1910

This black crocheted reticule has a multi-coloured beaded pattern around the top and middle sections. It has a scalloped trim along the top drawstring closure and a long tassel at the bottom. The earliest reticules were made of simple netting before later shifting to crochet, fabrics, and embellished beading.

 

blue floral reticule

Reticule, circa 1890 – 1920

This light blue reticule was crafted by needlepoint with a decorative multi-coloured floral design in the center. The back is lined with grey velvet, and the inside is lined with hot pink cotton fabric.

 

Lace reticule

Reticule, circa 1890 -1920

This reticule is made entirely of brown crocheted lace. It is a circular style with scalloped edges and a drawstring closure at the top. The drawstrings have two round crocheted bobbles at the end, which was common for reticules of this style.

 

Lace reticule

Reticule, circa 1900

This reticule is made of white crocheted lace with diamond shaped designs and round bobbles on the ends of the drawstrings.

 

Lace reticule

Reticule, circa 1910

This white crocheted lace reticule is decorated with a central rosette and an intercepting ‘X’ pattern.

  

Lace reticule

Reticule, circa 1910

This white crocheted reticule is decorated with rosettes and cone shaped tassels. It is lined with cotton fabric and has a classic drawstring closure at the top.

 

Lace reticule

Reticule, circa 1900 – 1920

This ivory coloured reticule is a classic change purse style and is lined with cotton. The crocheted lace reticule has a diagonal geometric pattern, rosettes and a scalloped edge at the top.

 

Lace reticule

Reticule, circa 1900 – 1920

This reticule is made of crocheted off-white cotton lace and has a pink cotton lining. The edging is scalloped and the lace features a ‘V’ shaped pattern surrounded by floral designs. The drawstring features round crocheted bobbles at the ends.

 

pink reticule

Reticule, circa 1900 – 1920

This reticule is made of pink and white woven cotton fabric, is lined with silk and has a classic drawstring closure.

 

Brown reticule

Reticule, circa 1900 – 1920

This reticule is made of brown woven wool with a floral and leaf design on the front and back. There are four small bobble tassels hanging from the bottom and there is a drawstring closure at the top.

 

pink reticule

Reticule, circa 1900 – 1920

This reticule is made of vibrant pink satin. There is crocheted lace at the top near the drawstrings and at the bottom above the tassel.

 

beaded reticule

Reticule, circa 1900 – 1920

This reticule is entirely beaded with multi-coloured floral patterns on a black background and a drawstring closure at the top.

 

pink beaded reticule

Reticule, circa 1900 – 1920

This reticule is made of cotton fabric that is entirely covered in pink glass beadwork. There are beaded tassels at the bottom and pink crocheted lace at the top near the drawstrings.

 

Lace reticule

Reticule, circa 1920

This off-white reticule was hand crocheted by Grace Morton (1907-2008) who wrote many poems about her life in Hastings County. It has a floral pattern with a ‘V’ shaped pattern pointing downward to the center.

 

Lace reticule

Reticule, circa 1920 – 1930

This unusually shaped reticule has five sides and is made entirely of white floral patterned lace.

 

Lace reticule

Reticule, circa 1920

This off-white crocheted lace reticule is decorated with a rosette pattern and is lined with rust coloured cotton fabric.

 
Do you have any artifacts that you would like to donate to Glanmore? Contact us and our staff would be happy to take a look!
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