File:Medieval purse frame top bottom and side (FindID 395383).jpg

English: A Fragment of a Medieval to Post Medieval cast copper alloy purse frame, 1475-1600 AD. The fragment is part of the side of the purse, with old breaks at both ends. The lower part of the fragment has an L-shaped cross-section and has a curved profile. On the outer surface of the L-shape on one side two pairs of parallel lines are visible. The pairs are going in different directions creating a V shape; these indented line sprobably originally held niello inlay. On the other side of the L-shaped frame, four holes have been drilled into the frame, sewing holes to attach the cloth purse. The side of the purse frame narrows towards the top and the L-section of the frame folds inwards until the frame becomes a solid rectangular section. At the very top, the frame folds outwards at 90 degrees to form a rectangular projection. The projection has broken at a pierced rivet hole, so that only a hemispherical hole remains. When complete this would have allowed the lower half of the purse frame to be riveted to a horizontal purse bar which would have clasped the purse shut. The fragment is 68.03 mm in length, 6.25 mm in width and 10.6g in weight The metal is pitted and is a light greyish-green colour.Ward Perkins (1940:169) suggests metal framed purses first became popular around 1475, but lost their appeal by the end of the 16th century.