Lady’s purse a pelliccia, 20th c.

Lady’s purse a pelliccia, early 20th century, Sardinia. MC-Monaco, Musée Océanographique, Inventory No 97 5843 (Petite bourse de dame en byssus) (MS Inventory 5).

Sea silk a pelliccia, gold coloured metal frame and chain, lined with blue taffeta, 13×13 cm. Signs of wear on one side.

For the inauguration of the new museum in 1910, Basso-Arnoux was asked by Prof. Jules Richard, director of the museum until 1945, for objects made of sea silk. This little bag was then bought by the museum for 75 lire – together with the other objects (including a cap, pendant, a total of 400 l.). The scientists present at the inauguration were enthusiastic about the unique collection: “…dove destò la più viva ammirazione e l’entusiasmo degli scienziati, per la sottigliezze straordinaria e la delicata morbidezza dei magnifici esemplari tosto acquistati dal Museo stesso, come raccolta veramente unica.”

Angelo Falconi, medical officer of La Maddalena, supported Basso-Arnoux in his efforts for the production of sea silk: “Il risultato della collaborazione di questi professionisti dotti appassionati e solerti fu un’interessante collezione di artistici lavori in bisso mandata all’inaugurazione del Museo oceanografico di Monaco…” (Zanetti 1964).

So, this little purse probably comes from La Maddalena. It was already shown in 2000 at the exhibition Parures de la Mer in the Musée Océanographique and illustrated in the catalogue (Doumenge 2000).

In addition to the four objects inventoried, the museum’s catalogue, under the numbers 97 5847, 97 5848, 97 5849, lists three other fibre beards purchased for 50, 10 and 5 francs. Under no. 97 5850 five only cleaned fibre beards in different colours are listed, at 25 francs. More about this in the chapter Historical aspects → 20th century → Sardinia.

Under no. 97 6534 is a pinna shell, about 70 cm long, with a coloured (?) photo of the Opéra de Paris. It is marked: acheter chez Boutique Degory, Rue Louis Blay, Paris 10e le 17 juillet 1909.

The purchase also included two more fan shells, several pearls of the Pinna nobilis and two fan shells in faience.