Wonderful piece! It is made of
solid Sterling Silver. Measures 9cm" long and6" wide. The front
has a very elaborate and ornate floral design with initials and the back
has "1916" etched on. The push button clasp works perfectly. It weighs
82.5 grams. The chain on this coin purse was NOT intended to be long,
it has NOT been shortened. It has multiple markings such as "W
(Watrous); Sterling; 741; 22; 22E" on various areas.
Watrous
Mfg. Co. of Wallingford CT. was established in 1896 and became a
division (FactoryP) of International Silver Co. in 1898. At the
start this company produced both sterling and silver plated objects. In
the Jeweler's Circular of 1919 it described this plant as making "
sterling novelties, vanity and cigarette cases, etc., sterling
toiletware, hollowware, and flatware...."
This
example hails from that era when ladies desired a purse that could
serve them for cosmetic use, cards of introduction, change and bill
carrier, and note taking while attending social events. The inside of
the compact cover door is fitted with a celluloid card for the lady to
notate order of dance partners. Celluloid was the world first
synthesized plastic.
