I've become a hound for earlyish 19th century American beadwork of this sort, which I believe was done by young women; I've recently bought and sold two needle books, and then here this small purse. I might guess there was once a handle attached, but I'm not  sure as there are really no punctures or losses along the top edges that I can discern; perhaps it was a simple string or ribbon attached at the top sides. Whatever the case, it's all about the beading for me, a charming combination of painstaking labor and very naive depiction of what I take for a green garland or sorts punctuated with roses, more or less the same on both sides, but with the monogram EP on one of them.

3 3/8" x 2 3/4". Some bead loss as evident--one small patch on the monogrammed side and some loss along the edges as one would expect, with one more pronounced area of loss  at the top of either side, which perhaps there was a handle attached. But it is quite stable and not particularly fragile now--and very lovely and special feeling in hand. With soft brown leather lining.