Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object ID # |
1960.013.006 |
Object Name |
Purse, Change |
Title |
A Coin Purse (Patented in 1890) |
Lexicon category |
3: Personal Artifacts |
Date |
March 25 1890 patent |
Year Range from |
1890 |
Year Range to |
1900 |
Made |
Unknown |
Place of Origin |
Unknown |
Description |
A coin purse with silver medallion-like lid to it. The purse has a compact-like silver lid and rim, which springs open when a tab at the front is pushed in. Perhaps it was called a snap closure? The lid has an embossed design with coin-like decoration and the portrait of an Ancient Greek man. There is a small mesh sack made out of brown/ecru-coloured crochet thread. Woven into the bag are pointed patterns of silver-coloured, metallic beads (at the bottom of the bag only). The purse design was patented on March 25, 1890. Referred to as a "Tam O’Shanter" coin purse, apparently named after the Scottish caps first worn by men. The cap got its name from the main character in the poem "Tam O’Shanter: A Tale," written by Robert Burns in 1790. These purses came into use from the late 1800s through the early 1900s. Tam O’Shanters had a flexible bottom with metal beads knitted into an eight-pointed star. |
Makers mark |
"Pat. Mar. 25, 90" |
Provenance |
The coin purse design was patented on March 25, 1890. The factory of origin is unknown. It originally belonged to Grace McLean (b. 1864-d. 1931), who lived in Owen Sound, Grey County, and then to her sister, Mary A. McLean. Their parents were married around 1863. There is a possibility that it had also belonged to Elizabeth McLean (neé Blythe), b. 1838-d. 1921). The McLeans resided at 37 High St., Owen Sound, Canada West (later called 1663 5th Ave. East, Owen Sound). By the time of the 1901 census, the widowed Mrs. McLean and daughters Grace and Mary had moved to Princess Street West. Mary A. McLean (b. 1878-d. 1967) kept the purse after her sister's death in 1931. |
Collection |
Personal Gear |
Material |
Metal/Thread/Silver |
Dimensions |
D-0.6 Dia-5.7 cm |
Found |
Owen Sound, Grey County |
People |
McLean, John McLean, Elizabeth McLean, Mary A. McLean, Grace |
Subjects |
Coins Money Purses Silverware |
Search Terms |
Victorian |