Can't identify silver case

[Ada01]

I have a small silver case about two inches wide by three and a half inchese wide.  Id is not a thick case by any means.  There is a hinge about 1/3 the way down the face of the case - it is more like a piano hinge (an inch or so section of the fance folds down).  There is a hook for a chain or something, and a chain attached although i am not sure that is the original chain.

Could anyone help identify this and if a picture link is possible that would be great.

Thanks

[talesofthesevenseas]

It sounds like it might be a silver coin purse, or a ladie's compact type of purse. These were hard silver cases, not flexible like purses are now. Is there anything inside? Perhaps little circular coin holders or a mirror? It's just a guess without a photograph, it might also be for carrying calling cards. A photo would really help.

[ironlord1963]

A pic would sure help, but sounds like a calling card holder to me, like tales suggested, or maybe a purse of Cigarette holder, could be any one of these items.  If you caould post pics that would help alot.

[KC]

Follow directions on front forum page for posting pictures!

[regularjoe2]

Looking 4-ward to seeing images .

Could also be a dance-card holder .

[Ada01]

See images

[ironlord1963]

     I would say these look like calling card holder.   Are there any hallmarks or marks of any kind?.

[regularjoe2]

Cool little item , Ada01 .

I'll go with ironlord , as to card-holder & curiousity about hallmarks .

[talesofthesevenseas]

Looks like a card holder to me too, like it is made for the cards to slip right in. The coin purses open from the side like a book. Beautiful little purse! You could use it for so many things now and it would be great with a black dress on an evening out around your wrist!

[Tim]

One might also consider this to be a "Dance Card" holder. Worn about the ladies wrist or neck.

[ironlord1963]

Guess I need a little culture lesson here.  What is a Dance Card Holder, I can guess pretty well by the name, just never heard of them.  Also what would be the difference between the two. Chain? Length of Chain?  Just curious and a bit un cultured at times 

[talesofthesevenseas]

Dance cards were used by ladies back in the days when men would request to be put on their dance card, to sign up for a turn dancing with the lady. I've done this before, at a Civil War ball. It was fun. We wore them around our wrists, as I remember, they had strings to tie them on. But I think that some of the ladies had little purses for them, although I think they were drawstring if I remember correctly. This looks like a later period- Maybe late 1800's do you think? Early 1900's? So holders for dance cards could have changed.

[talesofthesevenseas]

I'm thinking this is a calling card holder, I'm looking up dance card holders and they look more like little books, rather than having a loose card:







Whereas here is a calling card case:

[regularjoe2]

As to the dance-card holders , some didn't have chains attached .

Just to confound the subject a bit , many were attached to the ladys' tussie mussie .


Sometimes special patterns were used when sewing garments for dance , with a small pocket to conceal/hold the dance-card case .

[KC]

regular joe...you are too much.

My first inclination was to say calling card....however, the ladies had their purses to put the card holders in.

THe dance card holders did have chains....they usually checked their purses and coats/hats and thus the chain for wearing on wrist!  Not all dance card holders were attached in the "fan style".