Rare School girl puzzle purse enclosing The Lord’s Prayer in micro calligraphy
American, Probably New England, circa 1830-1850
Watercolor and ink on folded paper, 2 5/8 x 1 5/16 inches
In a superb state of preservation

This remarkable puzzle purse is executed in the form of a folded paper envelope, with pointed flap for closure, decorated with very fine watercolor decoration of floral sprigs, feathers, and pink ribbons, with pink and red lunette-type borders; the reverse side having an eight-point stylized floral device within a rectangle, with matching border; the envelope opens to a pair of overlapping half-round leaves with matching borders that open to reveal a tiny circular medallion with serrated edges on which The Lord’s Prayer is rendered in micro-calligraphy, pink ribbon bows painted in watercolor adorn its center top and bottom.