Miser Purses

Description

Miser Purses, the earliest form of purse, may have been conceived from the medieval practice of keeping coins in a stocking. Their name perhaps reflects the difficulty of extracting coins from such purses. These purses were designed to be handheld, concealed up a sleeve, or looped around the wearers belt—a later Victorian fashion. Depending on the length, some could be as short as eight inches, while longer purses could measure up to thirty-six inches. The longer purses especially attracted thieves who would swiftly slice through the purse with a knife before being discovered. Highly flexible, these purses were often knitted, netted, knotted, or crocheted, using a variety of materials—silk, cotton, wool, and occasionally metallic thread. Some featured beaded designs, with the two ends usually adorned with beads, tassels, or fringes. Victorian purses typically had each end decorated differently. Coins were inserted into either end of the purse through a slit approximately halfway down, and sliders or rings were moved to either secure the money or close off the slit.

Please see this article for more information, https://www.abbottantiquesandcollectables.com/article/Miser-Purses-Squeezing-Out-The-Money

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