Reticule

Unknown

first quarter 19th century · silk, cotton, metal · Costume Institute

Small mesh bags known as reticules were the must-have "it bags" of 1800-1825. Too small for carrying much more than a few coins, reticules were often shown in satirical prints as a fashionable foible of women's attire. Knit into an elegant lantern-like shape, this example survives with its original ribbon trim making it a particularly lovely and rare example of a short-lived fashion trend.

Artist

Unknown

Date

first quarter 19th century

Medium

silk, cotton, metal

Culture

British

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Designated Purchase Fund, 1982