A couple of weeks ago I met a woman who collects purses – not ordinary purses, but those old fashioned ones that used to be used for dances. She had the purses displayed on a wall. The wall-art exhibit of a dozen or so of these purses was delightful. Even though I am not a collector myself, I particularly liked this collection because it was unique and imaginative, and the purses themselves have such an old-fashioned romantic appeal. Typically these purses, no longer practical, are stuffed in a bottom dresser drawer or hidden away in a box. Her collection was a gentle reminder of a previous era and a way of showing appreciation for something beautiful.
I have one of these purses myself – one that belonged to my mother. It is beautiful in itself – covered with turquoise beads – and a poignant reminder of some long ago festive event. I don’t have the heart to throw it away, so it sits in a box in our basement. Maybe I will hang it up. Tell us about your own collections.
Rather than keep my jewelry in a box or drawer, I have the pieces hanging in plain view. Brooches and earrings are on strips of silver mesh. Necklaces are on a coat hangar.