This image shows details of a very pretty ‘tasje‘ – a small clutch bag on display at  Tassenmuseum Hendrikje on the oh-so-posh Herengracht in Amsterdam. Reputed to be the largest museum of its kind in the world, it is a museum dedicated to the woman’s bags and purses. Men’s purses as well – men apparently carried bags around up until the 17th century. Then, as with so many things, they left the impractical to women and went for clothes with spacious pockets.

It is a small bijou of a museum, showing how far the human animal goes in its desire to prettify things and show status. Lovely work on a few square centimeters. Will go back one day and partake of a High Tea in the beautiful rooms on the first floor.