Antique Victorian Mother-of-Pearl Sovereign Purse (c.1880–1910)
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A beautifully tactile little treasure from the late Victorian era, this exquisite mother-of-pearl coin purse is the kind of object that immediately transports you back to a world of reticules, lace gloves and railway carriages. Each shimmering side is crafted from natural mother-of-pearl, softly shaped and full of iridescent sheen — an elegant luxury accessory in its day and still every bit as enchanting now.
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Inside, the purse opens to reveal its original blue cotton lining with two neat compartments, as well as a wonderfully engineered metal sovereign clip, designed to hold a gold sovereign or half-sovereign securely. These mechanisms were fitted to finer purses between 1880 and 1910, making this example not only charming but historically significant.
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The gently aged metal frame and hand-stitched interior all tell the story of a much-loved piece carried through a century and more of daily life. Perfect for any collector of Victorian antiques, mother-of-pearl objects, miniature purses or “objets de vertu”.
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A small but luxurious slice of history — a little jewel in the palm of your hand.
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This Victorian mother-of-pearl coin purse (sometimes called a pocket purse, sovereign purse, or coin clamshell) was a luxury accessory carried by ladies (and occasionally gentlemen) during the late 19th century.
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Key details:
✔ Mother-of-pearl outer panels
– Both sides are cut and shaped from natural MOP.
– The shape, being softly irregular and organic, is typical of 1880–1900.
– This wasn’t a “budget” item: MOP always denoted elegance and gentility.
✔ Metal frame
Likely nickel-silver, brass, or silver-plated brass.
The hinge is typical of late Victorian engineering; neat, compact, and made for regular use.
✔ Original interior
The blue woven fabric is period-correct for 1880–1900.
Blue and teal cottons or polished linens were very popular for ladies’ coin purses.
✔ Sovereign holder mechanism
This is the most interesting feature.
That sliding bar you see is a spring-loaded sovereign clip, designed to:
secure one or more sovereigns or half-sovereigns
stop coins rattling inside the purse
allow quick access to a specific denomination
This mechanism was added to luxury coin purses and wallets from c. 1880 onward, but is less commonly found paired with MOP shells, making this example particularly collectable.
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⭐ WHAT IT WAS USED FOR
A lady would carry:
small coins in the two fabric compartments
a sovereign (high-value gold coin) in the metal clip
possibly folded stamps or small notes
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This tiny form factor meant it sat neatly inside a reticule or pocket.
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⭐ AGE ESTIMATE: 1880–1910
It has all the hallmarks of this date range:
organic mother-of-pearl shape
blue cotton lining
sovereign clip design
hand-worked internal stitching
rivet style and hinge form
Earlier (1850s–70s) purses are usually more carved and ornate; later examples (1920s) often have celluloid or plastic.
So this piece sits squarely in the late Victorian to Edwardian transition.
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⭐ CONDITION
For its age, it’s actually very good:
Strengths
MOP is intact, with no cracks
hinge is working
sovereign clip still present (these often go missing!)
interior largely original
beautiful iridescence on the MOP
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Wear
interior fabric shows expected age wear and dust
metal frame shows oxidation and tarnish
a little distortion to inner folds (normal for 120–140 years old)
All perfectly acceptable for a working Victorian purse.
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These are desirable among:
MOP collectors
Victorian accessory collectors
sovereign enthusiasts
“objet de vertu” collectors