A frog purse, circa 1600 Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford A printed silk satin reticule bag, designed by Samuel Lines, made by Female Society for Birmingham, circa 1825 Victoria and Albert ...

Bags-wise, the reticule, which dates to the 18th century, has been modernized for the 21st in the form of drawstring pouches, many of them embroidered. Also soft and unconstructed are the rave ...

Over the ensuing centuries, the girdle was replaced by pockets, which, in turn, were replaced by the reticule. These little bags were carried in the hand and, often beautifully embroidered ...