Rare Sable Beaded Purse

These types of purses, known as sable, are truly rare.  The beads are the tiniest beads you will ever see used in purses, the work is amazing.  In the 18th c. micro bead work, called sablé, was a specialty of dedicated French ateliers. Very fine grade translucent and opaque glass beads were individually stitched onto linen ground.

Collection of Lisa Moreno