Six Metal Frames for Purses
Medium
metalwork
Classification
metalwork
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase through gift of various donors
Accession Number
1901-39-887
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
In the late 18th century, designer Giuseppe Barberi (1746–1809) crafted these *Six Metal Frames for Purs* around 1780, exemplifying the exquisite metalwork of the period. Acquired by the Smithsonian American Art Museum generous donor gifts, these frames highlight Barberi's skill in creating functional yet ornate accessories. As a Roman artist active during the Neoclassical era, Barberi specialized in decorative metal elements that elevated everyday objects into works of art. These purse frames, likely intended for women's reticules—small drawstring bags popular in fashionable European society...