Purse with Coin Tray

In shape, material and finish this cowhide purse is the perfect replica of a predecessor created around the turn of the twentieth century - and hence the legacy of an era in which failure to pay could only be due to an empty purse and not, as happens today, to a damaged credit card or a forgotten PIN number. This was a time when payments were made with coins and small notes and purses needed to hold larger amounts of money without splitting. For this reason, the quality of the leather used to make purses was comparable to that used in shoemaking. The design of this vegetable-tanned leather purse features a coin compartment with a large, reinforced base and flap to make it easier to look for coins, and two separate note compartments for large amounts of paper money. It has another three pockets, a large and a small one inside and one on the reverse. The lining is synthetic. This purse is made in Bavaria by a small leather manufacturer employing only 10 people. Made from 27 individual parts in approximately 100 work steps, this purse exudes quality. All raw edges are turned in and fixed with adhesive and then hand-stitched. The corners, note compartments and interior edges have been pressed by hand using a hot edging iron.

In everyday life, a wallet cannot be big enough: In addition to cash, credit cards and IDs, it usually also has to hold receipts, business cards and many other cards more. It may even replace the handbag for female owners in the evening now and then and thus considerably exceeds the size of a trouser or jacket pocket. That’s why many have a second wallet filled with nothing more than the bare essentials – for holidays, city tours, visits to a beer garden or pub. Hardly larger than a credit card, these wallets fit into any pocket. Besides, it is more difficult for thieves to recognise such a small wallet and get to it. Lest should a thief have succeeded, the loss is at least manageable.

The Ulbrich bag and purse maker in Upper Franconia produce a small range of these compact wallets – for coins or notes. Some of them come with many card compartments, some of them feature just a few subdivisions. After all, space requirements and preferred partitioning may vary widely.