A Sewing Box with two beaded purses or money holders

First half 19th century, the sewing/work box, with pearl and stone and embroidered thread decoration to the top lid, three decorative corner pieces still present, the lid lifting off to reveal an attractive lined interior, the beaded purses, the larger with navy blue Grecian meander to the edge, the base with a resplendent sun and eight crowns to the middle of the piece, the glass beads in red, blue, green and yellow, the smaller purse in light terracotta thread, with typical elongated 'handle' with tassel, the golden and green threads to the main body of the purse depicting flowers, leaves and delicate tendrils, the box, (approx 24cm x 30cm x 10cm) (9cm diameter, 12cm high approx) (34cm long, not including the tassel)

Provenance:
Charlotte Bonaparte
Private Collection, Florence

Exhibited:
Museo Napoleonico, Rome (5 February-30 May 2010)
Musee Napoleon , Elba (15 June-30 September 2010)
Chateaux de Malmaison & de Bois-Preau Museum (20 October 2010-10 January 2011

Literature:
Exhibition catalogues for Rome and Malmaison 2010 & 2011 (3)