A Handbag Awaiting Its Owner-Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum

This exquisite handbag was made by unique craftsmanship, Silk threads were used to connect various beads on the cloth to form the colorful flower and plant patterns, and there was a silver bracelet inside. The handbag belonged to a Jewish refugee couple who had mortgaged it to Mr. Jin, Ms. Jin's grandfather, in exchange for medical expenses for their child while they were seeking refuge in Shanghai. Mr. Jin lent them a big sum of cash, which amounted to one month’s income of the store that he ran. He had never seen them again afterwards.

Mr. Jin was concerned about the safety of the couple and their child. 10 years later, Mr. Jin gave the handbag to his granddaughter, Jin Wenzhen, asking her to take good care of it as it was the treasure of a Jewish family.

As she got older, Jin Wenzhen thought more and more of looking for the Jewish family. She came to Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum, hoping that the museum could keep the handbag and help to find the offspring of the Jewish couple. When she took out the handbag which was wrapped in cloth from the box, the beads on a thread on the surface of the bag fell and a silver bracelet was even found with surprise inside the handbag. The museum connected with China Silk Museum in Hangzhou which promised to repair the handbag free of charge after hearing its story.

Now, the bag regained its splendor. Exhibited in the museum, it is waiting to go back to the hands of its original owner, which is the wish of Mr. Jin.