Special Post: Bags Made of Tobacco Flannels

This is a very special acquisition for The Vintage Purse Museum. From approximately 1910 to 1915 (experts’ timelines vary), tobacco companies packaged their wares with these small cloth rectangles, which are commonly referred to as tobacco "felts," "flannels," "blankets," and "silks." The first set of these were meant to resemble Native American blankets, but the designs expanded to include countries' flags, US college pennants, rugs, butterflies and other motifs. Some were put inside packages of cigarettes and small cigars, but were more often attached to the exterior packaging of tobacco products, usually tied with a ribbon, as a collectible premium with purchase. Many home crafters began sewing them into goods such as quilts, pillow cases and wall art. We are incredibly lucky to have these two drawstring bags made with the tobacco flannel flags of Ireland and Poland (same country on each side). What’s interesting is the addition of Native American-style beadwork, sewn directly onto the flannels. These are both lined and edged in satin ribbon, and have tassels similar to those we’ve seen on handbags in 1910s newspaper advertisements. Bonus is that the Poland tobacco flannel bag came with tiny novelty pinbacks, including one dated 1915.