Sterling Silver Mesh Purse Value Guide

This antique German sterling silver mesh purse represents the height of Edwardian evening fashion, featuring a delicate chainmail body and an intricately engraved silver frame. These pieces are highly collectible for their fine metalwork and the distinct Art Nouveau floral motifs often found on their kiss-lock closures.

What Is Sterling Silver Mesh Purse Worth?

The typical price range for Sterling Silver Mesh Purse is $200 - $350 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• Overall condition of the silver mesh, specifically looking for missing links, snags, or previous repairs.
• The presence and condition of the original interior silk liner and the integrity of the carrying chain.
• Intricacy of the frame's engraving and the clarity of the maker's marks or origin stamps.
• Total weight of the sterling silver, which provides a baseline bullion value for the collectible piece.

How to Identify Sterling Silver Mesh Purse?

• Locate the 'Sterling' or '925' hallmark, often accompanied by German silver marks like the crescent moon and crown.
• Examine the mesh for hand-linked construction rather than machine-stamped patterns common in later reproductions.
• Check the frame for period-accurate Art Nouveau or Edwardian floral engravings and a functional kiss-lock mechanism.
• Verify the weight and cool-to-the-touch feel characteristic of genuine sterling silver versus silver-plated base metals.

History of Sterling Silver Mesh Purse

Silver mesh purses became popular in the late Victorian and Edwardian eras as fashionable evening accessories. Produced widely in Germany, France, and England between about 1880 and 1920, they paired fine metal mesh bodies with decorative silver frames often engraved in Art Nouveau or Edwardian floral motifs. Collectors value original examples for their craftsmanship, maker marks, and intact liners and chains.