Velvet clutch evening bag belonging to Etta Moten Barnett

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

This is a black velvet and silk evening bag and attached change purse belonging to Etta Moten Barnett. The bag is a rectangular clutch with a hinged opening. The mouth of purse closes with a metal snap closure on the center top of the bag. The closure is decorated with a gold-colored ornament covered in clear crystals. The ornament is a long, narrow and square piece of metal that curls into scrolls at each end. The exterior of the bag is covered in black velvet , except for a strip along the top that is black silk. The interior of the bag is lined in black silk. There are two interior pockets, one openand one that closes with a zipper. There is a white colored tag sewn onto the inside hem. It has gold and black text that reads “MM.

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