Skip to main content
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 14

Biedermeier Beaded Bag with Oriental Scene – Handcrafted 19th Century Needlework

About the Item

This rare Biedermeier beaded bag from the 19th century is a fine example of early European beadwork, both decorative and rich in storytelling detail. The round bag features an elaborate, hand-stitched scene on both sides, rendered entirely in tiny glass beads. Depicted is an Ottoman nobleman in traditional attire – wearing a turban, voluminous trousers, and holding a long pipe – seated in a composed and dignified pose. In front of him kneels a barely clothed servant, offering him an item in a gesture of subservience. The figures are framed by a lush, floral ground beneath, adding depth and softness to the composition. Bead embroidery was a highly valued art form during the Biedermeier period, used to embellish personal accessories with both pattern and narrative. Each tiny bead was meticulously sewn by hand, often requiring great patience and precision. While this piece shows signs of age and has several visible bead losses, as shown in the photos, it remains a beautiful and evocative object. The craftsmanship and detailed imagery make it not only a collector’s item but also a cultural artifact that reflects the period’s fascination with the “Orient” and the fine art of hand embroidery.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 7.88 in (20 cm)Diameter: 5.91 in (15 cm)
  • Style:
    Biedermeier (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1820
  • Condition:
    Repaired: As you see in the pictures there are missing parts and some are fixed. Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses.
  • Seller Location:
    Hamburg, DE
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU3958344777182

More From This Seller

View All
Exquisite Beaded Bag Set – 19th Century Drawstring Pouch & Art Deco Clutch
Located in Hamburg, DE
This charming set of antique beaded accessories includes a 19th-century drawstring pouch and a small Art Deco evening bag, both showcasing the refined craftsmanship of historical bea...
Category

Vintage 1920s German Art Deco Antiquities

Materials

Silk, Glass

Iron Nutcracker in the Shape of a Cockatoo, 19th Century, Poland
Located in Hamburg, DE
This rare and whimsical 19th-century nutcracker from Poland is crafted from solid cast iron and takes the form of a stylized cockatoo. A nut can be placed in the bird’s beak to be cracked, while a second functional element is integrated into the center of the body – making it a playful yet practical object. The detailed shaping of the feathers and the expressive form reflect the fine craftsmanship of the period and lend the piece a sculptural quality that elevates it far beyond a mere kitchen tool. Nutcracker collecting is a rich and varied field within the world of antiques. While the brightly painted wooden figures from the Erzgebirge are widely known, earlier examples were often made of metal and featured imaginative animal or human forms. Iron nutcrackers...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Polish Belle Époque Antiquities

Materials

Iron

Antique Beaded Drawstring Purse with Dog and Parrot Motif – Germany, circa 1850
Located in Hamburg, DE
This exquisite antique beaded purse from Germany, dating to around 1850, is a remarkable example of 19th-century craftsmanship and textile art. Richly embroidered with vibrant glass beads in exceptionally fresh and bold colors, the purse features a charming depiction of a dog on one side and a colorful parrot on the other. The attention to detail extends even to the edges, where additional animals and floral motifs are intricately stitched, showcasing the skill and artistry of its original maker. The interior is lined with fine, buttery-soft deerskin leather, offering a luxurious tactile experience. While some minor bead losses and carefully executed repairs are visible, the overall condition is impressively well-preserved for its age. The drawstring is missing, but with the addition of a new ribbon, this delicate piece could even be used again—though it remains most striking as a collector’s item or display piece. Antique purses like this, especially with such vivid imagery and expert beadwork, are increasingly rare and highly sought after. A wonderful find for lovers of textile history, decorative arts, or romantic Victorian accessories.
Category

Antique 1850s German Biedermeier Antiquities

Materials

Leather, Glass

Colorful Art Deco Beaded Pouch, circa 1920s
Located in Hamburg, DE
This vibrant antique beaded pouch dates to the Art Deco period of the 1920s and captures the bold spirit and energy of its time. Unlike traditional handbags, this piece has no clasp ...
Category

Vintage 1920s German Art Deco Antiquities

Materials

Cotton, Glass

Iron Nutcracker with Brass Accents and Turned Handles, Germany circa 1800
Located in Hamburg, DE
This beautifully aged iron nutcracker dates to around 1800 and most likely originates from Germany. It is a wonderful example of early utilitarian craf...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antiquities

Materials

Iron

Art Nouveau Wire Bottle Rack from France, Early 20th Century
Located in Hamburg, DE
Antique wire bottle holder from France, early 20th century. The bottle holder can hold up to 12 bottles with a diameter up to 6cm. The individual holders have a height of 6cm and als...
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Antiquities

Materials

Wire

You May Also Like

19th Century Native American Crow Beaded Saddle
By Crow
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Genuine crow saddle with brain tanned deer hide. Original beaded horns and drops. Original wood and hide stirrups with drops connected with saddle leather st...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Native American Native American Objects

Materials

Other

Authentic 19th Century Nez Perce Beaded Cradleboard
By Nez Perce Indians
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
19th Century Nez Perce cradleboard. Contour beaded with floral design and faceted beads. Original brain tanned elk hide. The inside board was once lined with...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Native American Native American Objects

Materials

Hide

19th Century, Sioux Beaded High-Top Moccasins
By Sioux Indian Art
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
This is an outstanding set of authentic original beaded hide high-top / high-top moccasins with hard parfleche soles from the Sioux Native American Indians dating to circa 1880. The set shows stiff Indian tanned hide moccasins with hard parfleche rawhide soles and the tops being covered in period correct 1800’s glass trade seed beads that are sinew sewn in a traditional Buffalo track geometric pattern. The moccasins have a red ocher mineral pigment paint and are completely sinew rawhide sewn. The moccasins have sewn on high top / high-top leggings done in Indian tanned hide which is very stiff and has a sewn-on section at the top of Indian tanned Buffalo Bison hide...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Native American Native American Objects

Materials

Hide, Beads

19th Century, Southern Plains Beaded High-Top Moccasins
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Southern plains Hightop Moccasins Item Number: AG2312 Exceptional Kiowa/Comanche hightop moccasins dyed with yellow ochre. Adorned with a single be...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Native American Native American Objects

Materials

Hide, Beads

Mid 19th Century Firedogs, Oriental Andirons, Cast Iron, 36 cm
Located in Greven, DE
Pair of wonderful andirons with the shape of an oriental male bust. France, circa 1860. Solid iron in good condition according to its age. Firedogs are used as a holder for firewood...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Victorian Antiquities

Materials

Iron

19th Century American Wire Buggy
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fine folky handcrafted wire doll or teddy bear buggy is in fine condition and workable order. The wheels work and you can use this child's doll buggy.
Category

Antique 19th Century American Adirondack Antiquities

Materials

Wire

19th Century American Wire Buggy
$1,036 Sale Price
20% Off

Recently Viewed

View All