Purse c. 1937

This purse was made by Ruth Barnes, who lived from 1855 to 1995. It is constructed from small glass beads, meticulously stitched together to create a striking wave pattern. The beads themselves are fascinating. Each one is a tiny, uniform unit, suggesting industrial production. Consider the sheer labor involved in arranging them, bead by bead, to create the finished object. The undulating design gives the purse a playful, dynamic quality. The choice of blue and white hues evokes the ocean, a popular motif in decorative arts. This contrasts with the interior, lined with vibrant turquoise fabric, which is smooth and cool against the skin. This object reminds us that so-called "minor arts" can be just as conceptually rich as painting or sculpture. The purse is a testament to the artist's skill, patience, and creative vision, as well as the wider social conditions of labor and production.