Description
Vintage Petit Point Purse and Eyeglass Case Set
This vintage petit point purse and eyeglass case set features extensive floral needlework on both sides of each piece. Purchased in Vienna in 1967, the two accessories share cream grounds, colorful garden flowers and gold-tone metal frames, creating a particularly attractive coordinated pair.
Unlike petit point accessories decorated on only one side, both pieces continue their embroidery across the reverse. The designs differ rather than simply repeating, giving the pair several distinct floral compositions.
Floral Petit Point Embroidery on Both Sides
The larger eyeglass case presents an especially elaborate arrangement. Roses and other blossoms in burgundy, coral, pink and blue mingle with smaller flowers, buds and green foliage. Rather than concentrating the decoration in a single bouquet, the needlework extends over much of the cream ground, with flowers continuing toward the edges and lower portion of the case.
Its reverse carries another extensive floral composition, demonstrating how much needlework went into what was ultimately a functional personal accessory. Close examination reveals the small individual stitches that create the petals, leaves and subtle changes of color.
The purse follows a somewhat different decorative scheme. One side centers a compact bouquet within a scrolling brown border, combining roses and smaller blossoms with varied foliage. The embroidery on the opposite side provides another floral arrangement, allowing the purse to remain decorative regardless of which side faced outward.
Purchased in Vienna in 1967
Both pieces were purchased in Vienna, Austria, in 1967. Vienna had a particularly important tradition of petit point production, and finely embroidered personal accessories remained available there well into the 20th century.
Neither piece carries a maker’s or country mark, however. Their documented Vienna purchase establishes their provenance but does not by itself prove Austrian manufacture. They are therefore offered as European petit point accessories purchased in Vienna rather than attributed to a specific Austrian workshop.
Gold-Tone Frames and Clasp Closures
Gold-tone metal frames provide a warm contrast to the cream embroidery. Both use small clasp closures characteristic of compact purses and personal cases of the period.
The frames also reveal interesting details of their construction. The embroidery and fabric were fitted and secured directly into the metal structures, creating finished objects in which textile work and hardware function together.
These accessories were made to be used rather than simply displayed. Their surviving wear reflects that history while the extensive needlework remains the principal decorative feature.
Vintage Condition
Both pieces show visible evidence of age and use. The cream grounds have developed uneven discoloration and staining, which is particularly noticeable around portions of the upper areas and edges.
The purse no longer retains its original lining. One thread near the upper edge has also pulled from its position but remains unbroken. The photographs include close views of these areas so their condition can be assessed clearly.
The eyeglass case shows staining and discoloration both externally and internally. One hinge area of the gold-tone frame is damaged; nevertheless, the frame continues to function.
Despite these issues, the floral petit point itself remains remarkably appealing. The principal embroidered compositions survive intact, retain considerable color and still display the intricacy of the original needlework.
A Coordinated Pair of Petit Point Accessories
Keeping these two pieces together preserves something that an individual listing would lose. Their related materials, floral decoration, metal frames and shared 1967 Vienna provenance illustrate how petit point could be adapted to different personal accessories while maintaining a coordinated decorative character.
They also provide an interesting contrast between the delicacy of the needlework and the evidence of everyday use. More than half a century later, the tiny embroidered flowers remain the most visually compelling feature of both objects.
For more about this European needlework tradition and the particularly important role Vienna played in its development, see Petit Point: The Remarkable Art of Miniature Embroidery.
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