White Beaded Purse. 1960s. Maker: Unknown. Ivory mesh fabric with hundreds of small and large white beads glued onto it, making a fabulous three-dimensional feast for the purse collector’s eyes. The handle is made of upholstery foam, which you can see because the mesh has come apart a bit. The opening is metal, which snaps stiffly open and closed. At first, I couldn’t tell if the beads were sewn or glued, but, after examining them closely—and, I admit, tugging on them—a lot—I determined that the glue they used must be the same stuff that held Apollo 11 together. This purse is forty years old and is in a lot better shape than I am!