Many decorative early 17th century purses survive, but it is not entirely certain how they were used and worn. They are too delicate and elaborate to serve as receptacles for money carried on one’s person on a daily basis. Few commercial exchanges in the early 17th century required cash, and most household shopping was done by servants. However, they were used as a form of gift-wrapping for the presents of coin that were offered as a New Year’s gifts to the monarch. These embroidered purses may also be the ‘sweet bags’ frequently listed in inventories and offered as gifts. These held perfumed powder or dried flowers and herbs, and were perhaps applied to the nose like a pomander when necessary. The rather simplified pattern of flowers worked in heavy silver and silver-gilt threads and dense texture of the embroidery is characteristic of the period 1630 to 1650. Purse. English; first half 17th century. Linen canvas embroidered with silver-gilt thread and silk in Gobelin, chain, stem, detached buttonhole, lattice and interlaced ladder stitches. [] A square, flat purse of linen embroidered with silver-gilt thread and green silk thread in gobelin, chain, stem, lattice and interlaced ladder stitches in pattern of flowers with raised petals in detached buttonhole stitch. It was once lined with coral-pink silk and has green silk and silver-gilt drawstring, finials, loops and tassles. Purse, embroidered canvas, 1630-1650, British; raised silver gilt thread, green silk trim