Gentlemens Wallets...?

Upstart Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 6

Does anyone know what a gentleman would use to carry money in around 1810-1820? The word wallet has been around forever, but I know it books I have read, that word is not used. It's not purse, is it?
Emily

Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 6:38 pm Post subject:

I've read references about gentleman's purses.
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Medieval & Regency Writer
keirasoleore.blogspot.com

Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 10:33 pm Post subject:

Yes, it is called a purse for men, too. They were either simple little drawstring pouches or stocking purses, like the ones shown in my collection here. During the Regency you would likely see something like a wallet, or actually more like a checkbook, since small denomination bank notes became more widely used (the Bank of England introduced the £1 and £2 notes during the wars with France, which was expensive and diminsihed the gold supply to such an extent that the Bank no longer paid out in gold). A gentleman might have carried a small envelope-type wallet for notes, though I can't tell you whether or not they used the term "wallet." For women, a similar item was called a pocket book because they were meant to slip into the deep pockets beneath their dresses. It is quite possible that the term was used for gentlemen as well, but I'm only guessing.
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Viscountess of the Manor Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 1100

The OED gives 1845 for the usage we’re talking about:
3. A flat bag, usually of leather, closed by a flap fastened with a button or clasp, or secured by a band. Orig. U.S. a. A pocket-book for holding paper money without folding, or documents.
1845 N. P. WILLIS Dashes at Life II. 245 Our several borrowings were thrust into a wallet which was sometimes in his pocket, and sometimes in mine, as each took the turn to be paymaster.

Earlier usage seems to have been for a larger bag:

1. a. A bag for holding provisions, clothing, books, etc., esp. on a journey either on foot or on horseback; a pilgrim's scrip, a knapsack, a pedlar's pack, or the like.

c1670 in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. I. 39 A wallet to cari books. 1712 Spectator No. 289 9 Having looked about him for some time, he [a Dervise] enter'd into a long Gallery, where he laid down his Wallet, and spread his Carpet, in order to repose himself upon it. a1721 PRIOR Cupid turned Plowman 2 A rustic wallet o'er his shoulders ty'd. 1760-2 GOLDSM. Cit. W. lxii, With her scanty wardrobe packed up in a wallet, she set out on her journey on foot. 1791 A. WILSON Pack Poet. Wks. 1876 II. 30 My pond'rous Pack apo' the ground I carelessly had flung; A wallet green, wi straps fast bound. 1840 DICKENS Old C. Shop xii, The old man had forgotten a kind of wallet which contained the light burden he had to carry.
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-Kalen
w/a Isobel Carr
Ripe for Pleasure, May 2011
Book 1: The League of Second Sons
www.isobelcarr.com

Landed Gentry Joined: 02 Aug 2007 Posts: 125 Location: PA

I have no idea if it might be accurate.....but what about the term billfold (seems more "period" a term than wallet) ? Or maybe money clips (They just seem like something a wealthy historical figure would have)?

Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 10:40 am Post subject:

Landed Gentry Joined: 02 Aug 2007 Posts: 125 Location: PA

Viscountess of the Manor Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 1100

Now I'm obsessed with making one of these . . . I got all the supplies over the weekend and started in. I can’t wait to get the Bargello work done so I can start assembling the actual wallet. I copied the pattern I’m using from an 18th century chair in the MET’s collection (but I'm using a different color pallet).

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-Kalen
w/a Isobel Carr
Ripe for Pleasure, May 2011
Book 1: The League of Second Sons
www.isobelcarr.com

Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:28 am Post subject:

Kalen, what's Bargello and how does it work? What's involved in duplicating the MET chair cushion pattern? Does this pattern work with your pirate costume?
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Medieval & Regency Writer
keirasoleore.blogspot.com

Viscountess of the Manor Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 1100

Bargello (also sometimes called Florentine work) is a type of needlepoint that involves a series of straight stitches that leap over multiple squares of the canvas. It also involves the use of changing hues of the same color. It’s period from the late 16th century on up, and was commonly used for wallets during the Georgian period.

To recreate the pattern I took the detail image of the chain and blew it up on my computer until I could count the stitches, then I worked it out on graph paper. I choose colors similar to those on another period pocketbook (pinks and blue-greys).
_________________
-Kalen
w/a Isobel Carr
Ripe for Pleasure, May 2011
Book 1: The League of Second Sons
www.isobelcarr.com

Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 4:13 pm Post subject:

Kalen, you never fail to astonish me with your knowledge and ingenuity.
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Medieval & Regency Writer
keirasoleore.blogspot.com

Viscountess of the Manor Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 1100

I can easily get bogged down in all the minutia rattling around in my head, but I thrive on the hands-on experience of living history. I’ll scan my project and post a pic soon.
_________________
-Kalen
w/a Isobel Carr
Ripe for Pleasure, May 2011
Book 1: The League of Second Sons
www.isobelcarr.com

Viscountess of the Manor Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 1100

Over on History Hoydens I'm blabing about wallets and pocketbooks and showing off my Bargello work.
_________________
-Kalen
w/a Isobel Carr
Ripe for Pleasure, May 2011
Book 1: The League of Second Sons
www.isobelcarr.com