Reticule and Roses
“Lucy Locket lost her pocket,
Kitty Fisher found it;
Not a penny was there in it,
Only ribbon round it.”
Traditional English Nursery Rhyme, published in 1842, but sung for at least a century beforehand.
The theme for “Smile on Saturday” for the 2nd of August is “regard the R”, a theme where it is required to take a photo where something beginning with the letter R should be the main subject of the picture. In this case, I have opted to delve into one of my many collections. I collect antique and vintage purses, handbags and reticules. I have chosen one of the latter: a reticule. So what is a reticule? A reticule, also known as a ridicule or indispensable, was a type of small handbag or purse, similar to a modern evening bag, used mainly from 1795 to 1820, but as late as the Twentieth Century up until the Great War. The reticule became popular with the advent of Regency fashions in the late Eighteenth Century. Ladies did not have pockets in their dresses throughout this period, and a reticule could be used to keep the necessities a lady might require. They are usually embroidered or beaded. My reticule is an Edwardian one that has been stunningly hand beaded with a pattern of pomegranates, grapes and flowers, and the reticule features a russet silk interior (another R). It is in such good condition for its age that this reticule is a museum quality piece. To add some extra Rs to fill the frame, I have placed the reticule on some satin brocade, featuring Art Nouveau roses. I hope you like my choice of subject for this week’s theme, and that it makes you smile.
Reticule and Roses
“Lucy Locket lost her pocket,
Kitty Fisher found it;
Not a penny was there in it,
Only ribbon round it.”
Traditional English Nursery Rhyme, published in 1842, but sung for at least a century beforehand.
The theme for “Smile on Saturday” for the 2nd of August is “regard the R”, a theme where it is required to take a photo where something beginning with the letter R should be the main subject of the picture. In this case, I have opted to delve into one of my many collections. I collect antique and vintage purses, handbags and reticules. I have chosen one of the latter: a reticule. So what is a reticule? A reticule, also known as a ridicule or indispensable, was a type of small handbag or purse, similar to a modern evening bag, used mainly from 1795 to 1820, but as late as the Twentieth Century up until the Great War. The reticule became popular with the advent of Regency fashions in the late Eighteenth Century. Ladies did not have pockets in their dresses throughout this period, and a reticule could be used to keep the necessities a lady might require. They are usually embroidered or beaded. My reticule is an Edwardian one that has been stunningly hand beaded with a pattern of pomegranates, grapes and flowers, and the reticule features a russet silk interior (another R). It is in such good condition for its age that this reticule is a museum quality piece. To add some extra Rs to fill the frame, I have placed the reticule on some satin brocade, featuring Art Nouveau roses. I hope you like my choice of subject for this week’s theme, and that it makes you smile.