Silver chainmail purse with silver clasp, Jan Verdoes, Haarlem, 1760

Very special chainmail purse attributed to the Haarlem silversmith Jan Verdoes, active from 1734 to 1768.

Not many silver items from his hand have been preserved, but what is available is in museums, including the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam.

This purse is provided with a bag of mail work that is made up of links, of which the cast middle part is decorated with a tassel. Four eyelets are soldered to each middle part. This must have been an enormously time-consuming job.

A similar purse is not known. It seems to be a unique and commissioned purse. The bracket opens by pressing the buttons on both sides. The bracket is decorated with putti.

Hallmarked with master mark IVD (his second or third known master mark), also hallmarked with provincial lion, city mark Haarlem and date letter B for 1760.

The purse is depicted in the book Nederlands Klein zilver by BWG Wttewaall. Image 124, page 63.

Sold: Glerum May 1996, lot 305

The chainmail purse is in excellent condition.

Weight: 100 grams. Dimensions: 7.5 x 10 cm.