Beurs van gebreide witte en blauwe wol, voorzien van twee stalen ringen Possibly 1841 - 1849

This purse, made of knitted white and blue wool and featuring two steel rings, was created by Petronella Moens. While the steel rings provide structure and decoration, it's the knitted wool that gives the object its softness and pliability, a gentle contrast to the rigid metal. Knitting, a slow and intimate process done by hand, transforms simple strands of wool into a complex, interconnected structure. The regularity of the stitches speaks to the maker's skill and patience, virtues that were highly valued in the 18th and 19th centuries. We can imagine the time spent creating this purse, each loop meticulously formed, each row building upon the last. The wool, once sheared from sheep, spun into yarn, and dyed, carries its own history of labor. The act of knitting itself becomes a form of quiet resistance to the increasing mechanization of production. This humble purse is thus a testament to the enduring power of human touch and the intrinsic value of handmade objects.