The Bag and Purse Museum
Museum of Bags and Purses – InsideThe bag and purse collection was started by Hendrikje Ivo more than 35 years ago, after she discovered an unusual, early 19th Century, Germany bag in an English country antiques shop. Having had her interest in bags aroused by this find, she began researching the history of ladies bags and purses, and she gradually began to collect more and more pieces. When she realised that she had amassed a large and interesting collection, she opened her house up to the public, so that they could share her passion. In 2007, with the help of an anonymous donor, Hendrikje was able to move the collection to its present location, where it now receives over 80,000 visitors per year.
The oldest complete pieces in the collection date back to the 16th Century, but there is also an exceedingly rare, 15th Century, gothic bag clasp which was discovered in a riverbed in Belgium over 20 years ago.
