Rare 1920s Flapper Bag Sterling Silver Top

A delightful and rare 1920s flapper bag with a sterling silver top. The sterling silver is gilded and the whole item is in excellent condition. The guilloche enamel is decorated with hand painted pink roses & forget-me-nots. There isn't any damage to the enamel or hand painted flowers & foliage. Image seven shows the interior mesh which is securely attached to the silver gilt frame. The camera had difficulty capturing the fine mesh attachments. Suffice it to say regularly around this frame are the original mesh attachments. We believe that all of them are present. The lid & base are embellished with silver gilt scrollwork & flowers . The clasp closes onto a beautiful sapphire cabochon. All clasps & hinges work perfectly. The original sterling silver strap complete with the silver gilt runner allows for the bag to be secured to the wrist whilst dancing. This is decorated on the front with a gilt stylized tulip & on the back with chevrons - so Art Deco! This design is repeated on the bottom of the strap. The gilding is still excellent. On opening this antique purse you will see image four which shows the sterling silver lid which opens to reveal the mesh purse. Here is also the compartment which houses two mirrors on a sterling frame which moves on a hinge to reveal the second mirror. Both the mirrors give good clear reflections - a tiny subtle amount of age related on the first mirror is visible. The bag is hallmarked 'R & G Co' within Ripley & Gowan's famous heart shaped trademarked design & further 'Sterling Top'. The interior sterling silver still retains the original gilding too. The mesh is superb still with the gorgeous - a stylish monochrome enamel design & it does not have any missing links or damage. The bottom of the purse is secured with a silver gilt floral motif from which the silver gilt petal shaped clasp holds the tassels. Remarkably the tassels still retain the monochrome enamel too. Measures 12 1/2" from the top of the strap to the tassel & weighs 180.7 grams. The circumference of the purse is 22 cm. An immaculate velvet drawstring pouch is free with this order.