Antique Edwardian Flapper Beaded Drawstring Reticule Purses I Found At An Estate Sale!

I found these two lovely antique beaded drawstring purses at a local estate sale. I was told by the seller, that the gray one with the tassel was from around 1917 - 1920s. The other one with the 'Arts and Crafts' type pattern is supposed to be from around the 1900s to the 'teens'.
The patterned one has a cloth lining, with little pockets, probably for lipstick and comb. There are some beads missing on that one.
In what I call the 'Arts and Crafts' style purse, there is also a long piece of the inside lining that has a circular piece at the bottom, which I'm guessing used to hold a little round mirror!
The inside of the gray purse with the tassel is a black crochet. I have paper inside so you can see the pattern. There are (what look to be) celluloid rings for the drawstring to go through.

(Alexander Parkes invented the first plastic, a synthetic replacement for ivory, that he called Parkesine in 1855. It was unveiled at the 1862 Great International Exhibition in London, and later renamed Celluloid.)
(Leo Hendrik Baekeland invented the first viable method for making plastic based on a synthetic polymer, in 1909. He publicly announced his discovery in 1912, after perfecting his work, naming it bakelite. It was originally used for electrical and mechanical parts, finally coming into widespread use in consumer goods in the 1920s. Bakelite was the first true plastic, a purely synthetic material, and the first thermosetting plastic.)
(When the Bakelite patent expired in 1930, the Catalin Corporation acquired the patent and began manufacturing Catalin plastic using a different process that allowed a wider range of coloring.)(Per Wikipedia.)

The Victorian period was from June 1837 (Queen Victoria's coronation) to January 22, 1901 (Queen Victoria's death), and the Edwardian period from 1901 to 1910 (King Edward's reign).
British historians take the Edwardian Period as ending with WW1, and the period after, 1919-1939, is known as the Interwar Years or Interwar Period. (Per Yahoo Answers.)
The gray reticule could possibly be from the flapper era, if the rings pass the bakelite tests, or from the Edwardian period, if the rings are celluloid.
































Answer from a antique purse collector:
The first drawstring reticule is Edwardian, in my opinion, 1910 to 1915 at latest. Brass loops used for the drawstring were commonly used during that time.
The second beaded bag is wonderful! again, the drawstring opening is indicative of the Edwardian period. I think the assessment from 1900 to about 1918 would be close.
Both purses look to be in good shape with minimal bead loss. If this is the case I would estimate the larger beaded bag to be around $200. The smaller would be approx. $150-175 depending on the market.

Nostalgic treasures from days gone by!

From the many movies, and documentaries, I have watched, and books I have read, about the Victorian and Edwardian periods, I have fallen in luv with the wide brimmed hats, bustles, parasols, and fans...as well as furniture, and household items of that time!
www.oldfashionedcharm.com will feature vintage items from the 1950s, and earlier, but I hope to showcase Victorian, and Edwardian, antiques!
The Victorian period was from June 1837 (Queen Victoria's coronation) to January 22, 1901 (Queen Victoria's death), and the Edwardian period from 1901 to 1910 (King Edward's reign).
The Arts and Crafts Movement developed in England in the 1860s, from artist and writer William Morris, and spread to Australia, Canada, and America. Its peak was from 1880 to 1910. In America, it was known as Mission style.
This movement challenged the Victorian way of thinking with a vision of social reform, from men such as Walter Crane, John Ruskin, and William Morris, who wanted better quality, massed produced furniture for the working classes.
The Art Nouveau style, which was very popular from 1890 - 1905, originated in Belgium and France, and was a style of art, architecture, and applied arts, especially visual arts. The use of nature's designs, especially curved shapes such as vines, and unusual shapes such as peacock feathers, and butterflies, were prevailant, and sometimes had a Japanese influence. I have seen many table runners and 'cloths with these designs. Also use of the female figure was prevailent, as seen in vanity powder jars from that period.
The Lalique name, known for glass and jewelry, and Louis Comfort Tiffany, with his stained glass, jewelry, mosiacs, metalwork, and lamps, are two of the widely known designers of this period.
Both these movements had a great effect upon Victorian ideals and design.
Very informative sites about these styles are:
www.arts-crafts.com/archive/
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Nouveau
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arts_and_Crafts_Movement
for René Jules Lalique:
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9_Lalique
and for Louis Tiffany: www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Comfort_Tiffany