Pouch
Unknown Artist
early 18th century
Medium
silk, metal, pearls
Classification
Pouch
Culture
Russian
Department
Costume Institute
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Mrs. Edward S. Harkness in memory of her mother, Elizabeth Greenman Stillman, 1931
Accession Number
2009.300.1729
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite pouch from early 18th-century Russia, crafted by an unknown artist, exemplifies the opulence of imperial fashion during Peter the Great's transformative reign. Made of fine silk embellished with metal threads and lustrous pearls, it served as a luxurious accessory—likely for carrying small essentials like coins or perfume—worn by elite women at court or social gatherings. The use of pearls and metalwork highlights the era's embrace of lavish materials, blending Eastern opulence with emerging Western influences as Russia modernized. The pouch's intricate design, featuring bird m...