{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O78800"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O78800/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM6823/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM6823/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AM6823","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AM6822","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AU3558","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O78800/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O78800","accessionNumber":"T.250-1960","objectType":"Purse","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>A number of beaded bags from the early 17th century survive.  Their stylized floral patterns and less expensive materials imitate the elaborate embroidered versions carried by the aristocracy.  Many bear mottos or expressions relating to charity, friendship or luck, which suggests that they may have been used for gifts of money. <br><br><b>Materials & Making</b><br>The development of the 'drawn-glass' technique about 1490 allowed the manufacture of large numbers of small, round, coloured beads with a central hole, of the type used in this purse. The glassworks on the island of Murano near Venice were the most famous during the Renaissance, but by the early 17th century the technology had spread to glass-making centres in Amsterdam and Bavaria.  Beads were produced mainly for trade with North America and Africa, but they were also sold in Europe for use in embroidery.<br><br><b>Subjects Depicted</b><br>The expression 'hit or miss' is first recorded in the English language in William Shakespeare's play <i>Troilus and Cressida</i> published in 1606, where it has the same meaning of random luck that it has today.  The expression may have derived from a country dance also known as 'hit and miss', recorded as early as 1626.","physicalDescription":"Purse of brown glass beads on a ground of netted silk. With a diamond diaper pattern in blue and white beads with clusters of green and blue beads at the intersections. In each diamond a letter 'S' in dark blue beads is surrounded by white and yellow beads. Lined with leather and buff silk. Two tassels of buff silk ribbon at the bottom.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silk (textile)","id":"AAT243428"},{"text":"glass","id":"AAT10797"},{"text":"leather","id":"AAT11845"}],"techniques":[{"text":"embroidery","id":"AAT53653"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silk, glass beads, lined with leather and silk, silk ribbon","categories":[{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"},{"text":"Accessories","id":"THES48998"},{"text":"Leather","id":"THES49030"},{"text":"Clothing","id":"THES48975"},{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"},{"text":"Europeana Fashion Project","id":"THES265804"},{"text":"Folk Art","id":"THES49003"},{"text":"Embroidery","id":"THES48960"},{"text":"Bags","id":"THES284620"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2006AM6823","2006AM6822","2006AU3558"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"015","id":"THES392784"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Purse","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1628","earliest":"1628-01-01","latest":"1628-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Bequeathed by Frank Ward","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"8.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"12.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions checked: Measured; 07/01/1999 by sp/nh\nhas","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'HIT OR MISS THERE IT IS 1628'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Inscribed around the top in white beads"}],"objectHistory":"Made in England; the beads possibly from Venice, Italy","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Purse of glass beads on a ground of netted silk, England, dated 1628","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"The beads possibly are from Venice, Italy.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nPURSES<br>\nPurses were a common dress accessory and often very ornate.  In the days before regular bathing, body odours were masked with 'sweet bags' containing perfumed powder or dried herbs.  Purses also held mirrors or sewing equipment.  Presents or donations of money could be 'gift wrapped' in a purse.","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}},{"text":"A number of early 17th-century beaded bags bear mottos or expressions relating to charity, friendship or luck. These two examples carry the messages, 'I pray God to B my guide 1634' [T.55-1927] and 'Hit or miss there it is 1628' [T.250-1960]. They would have been used to carry either sweet-smelling herbs or small gifts.\n\nV&amp;A, Room 40, <i>Bags: Inside Out. </i>","date":{"text":"12/2020","earliest":"2020-12-01","latest":"2020-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["T.250-1960"],"accessionNumberNum":"250","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":1960,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LP2614","2019LV5544"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-27","availableToBook":false}}