What do you think this artifact is?

Where do you think it was made?

What is it made from?

This is a beaded purse made from leather! The tie strings at the top allow the user to draw them tight, safely securing inside whatever they wish to hold in the purse, and once drawn they function as a handle for carrying. Decorative fringe adds a stylish flair along with the beaded designs along the tope portion, making this an item of functional adornment.

This purse was made in Nigeria, a country located on the western coast of Africa, facing the Atlantic Ocean. It was donated to the Karshner Center in 1977.

For more information, visit:

• This artifact in the Karshner Digital Collections
• Artifact Worksheets you can use in your classroom or for homeschool
• The History of the Handbag
• Handbag [wiki]
• The evolution of the handbag