GOLD, GEM-SET AND DIAMOND EVENING PURSE, EARLY 20TH CENTURY

The gold mesh purse to an open work scroll surmount embellished with circular-cut sapphires and diamonds, centring on a winged wheel motif set with circular-cut diamonds and calibré-cut sapphires, to a synthetic cabochon sapphire clasp.

Winged devices were employed during the early 20th century by both aeronautical and automobile companies. Up to then the Royal Flying Corps consisted of separate Naval and military devisions, which slowly drifted apart towards the outbreak of the Great War in 1914. The existence of two individual air services with the obvious overlapping was to finally lead to the foundation of the Royal Air Force on the 1st April 1918. Although it has not been possible to ascertain the attribution of the above device it is possible that it alludes to either one of the first aviation devisions that ultimately formed the Royal Air Force.