Purses

2 Red leather Pouch style purses with brass framing along the opening and an embossed Egyptian motif across the top. The clasp, with two royal lions and a center ring is the same on both sides of the purses. The red leather handles, with slight differences, are looped and meant to be carried on the wrist. After King Tut’s Tomb was discovered in 1923 Egyptian motifs became very popular in clothing, jewelry, advertising and all aspects of life. DATE: Circa 1925. a. 2-1/2” wide brass frame across the top is embossed with 2 Egyptian dogs or perhaps cats. Both animals were revered and in early carvings and murals they often looked so similar that it can be hard to distinguish between them. Purse is lined in purple taffeta w/a small taffeta pouch and covered mirror attached to the inside. Label reads, “Warranted crushed leather.” 6-1/2’ at its widest and 6-3/4” long. b. The purse has a 2” neck embellished with a rectangular brass filigree motif. It is lined in pink taffeta with a round attached mirror and small pouch. 6” at its widest and 6-1/2” from top of neck to bottom edge.

2 hand tooled Arts and Crafts leather purses. a. Leather bag, front has calla lilies reaching upward in a symmetrical design with a textured back. Frame looks brass plated highlighted with floral design that is repeated on the Turnloc clasp. The flip open top of the clasp is attached to a piece tan celluloid. Inside of bag is lined in green suede with 3 pockets and include a small mirror with a leather backing. The bag has a leather lacing. There is a stamped label on the inside but it is difficult to read, however the inside of the frame has 3 patent dates - Oct. 5, 1915, May 15, 1917 and July 23, 1918 which are the patent dates found on all Jemco leather bags. Chain handle not original to the bag. 8-3/4” x 7-1/4.” DATED: After 1915. b. Leather bag with both a floral and geometric symmetrical design on the front and back. Purse has decorative flaps on the front. Frame is caramel and brown celluloid with a clear caramel hinged closure that flips down over the top.The back has a looped strap for sliding the hand through to hold. Bag has leather lacing. Lining is green suede lwith two pockets. The celluloid along the left side of the frame has split and a section is missing. I have included it in the collection because it is an unusual combination of materials and clasp. 8” x 6-3/4.” DATE: Mid teens to mid 1920s.

2 Leather clutch bags machine tooled in a swirly symmetrical pattern and partially painted. The metal frames are covered in the leather. Bags have a coin purse with a kiss lock closure that is attached to a bar at the hinge allowing it to move back and forth. There is a back loop strap for holding with the back of your hand. a. Carmel brown leather bag with areas of randomly placed colors in shades of brown, blue, rose and mustard and a large center series of swirls that form a circle at the center of the front. Back identical tooling, no color. The lining is beige and there is an inside pocket. There is a kiss lock closure. Bag 6-3/4” wide at the base 5-1/4” long.

Alumesh is metal enameled aluminum beads that interlock into each other, also referred to as beadlite enamel, for its raised center resembling a bead. Inside pocket with labels read, “Alumesh Bags, Made in U.S.A. Pat. 78,124.” Patent was granted March 26, 1929 by U.S. Patents and Trademarks online. DATE: 1930s. A large size alumesh “bead” with 2 alumesh handles and a zippered closure. Dark brown silk like lining. 6-1/2” x 11.”

Beaded evening bag of tiny round black beads with overall design of 3 leaf clovers outlined with bugle style beads. Back of bag has just 3 larger clovers in the center. Beaded metal frame and handle, kiss lock closure, black silk lining with pocket and label “Magid, Made in Japan.” The New York company was originally A.I. Magid Co., and became Magid Handbags around 1938. DATE: Difficult to say, probably 1950s or 60s.

Lucite is the brand name for the polyacrylic material Dupont patented in 1931. It was popular with fashion designers because it could be easily molded and sculpted, enabling them to make purses in unusual and fun shapes. DATED: 1950s. Black Lucite purse with a cylindrical body and a raised transparent lid carved with squares and rectangles. It has a clear Lucite handle, a black Lucite snap on closure and 4 round feet. The top of the inside hinge says, “Toro, Dist NYC.” Bag 8’ x 4-3/4” x 4.”

Black silk bag and handle, front and back embroidered in soft hues of pink, magenta, coral, yellow and varying shades of green. The top of the gold tone frame is embellished with small stones, in the center is a hinged carbuncle cabochon circled with smaller stones clasp. Self fabric lining with pockets and attached coin purse. Although there is no label all comparable bags I have seen have been made in France. 10-1/2” at it widest and 7-1/2” from bottom to top of frame and 7” drop down handle.

Caviar Beaded Bag in bright shiny white, yellow, green, blue and red plastic beads on a navy fabric. The bag’s flat bottom is covered with the beads. A soft pleat on each side of the center in the front and back angles down to the bottom giving the purse added fullness. A gold tone charm of an elephant hangs from a ring on the zipper. I have not seen a charm on any other Lumured bag so don’t know if it is original. Stamped “Lumured, Made in USA on the lining. 9-1/2” x 6-1/2” and 3” deep at bottom edge.

Elegant white beaded evening bag made up of 2 types of white glass beads, milky white seed beads and more translucent white beads. The bag has a swirly design with a series of raised diamonds in the center. The entire top of the gold tone frame is embellished with a pattern of twisted beads and 3 faceted porcelain discs, one on each end of the frame and one covering the fold-over clasp. Each painted in the Fragonard romance themes in shades of rose, blue, yellow, green, brown and red. The bag has a 4-1/2” drop down snake gold tone metal chain. Lining is cream silk, has a pocket, a small change purse with a kiss lock closure and a comb in a cream leather envelope with a rhinestone snap closure. The label reads, “Made in France by Hand, Walborg.” Bag is 8” x 5-3/4.” DATE: 1950s and 60s.

Lucite Purses. Lucite is the brand name for the polyacrylic material Dupont patented in 1931. It was popular with fashion designers because it could be easily moulded and sculpted, enabling them to make purses in unusual and fun shapes. DATED: 1950s. Envelope style clutch bag in tortoise lucite with transparent lucite sides. When held upright the sides show a tear drop shape. It has a hinged flap with a scalloped edge. There are no marks but the same exact bag in a different color was embossed,” Wilardy Originals.” Wilardy Handbags were marked with embossed lettering or paper labels and if it had a paper label it is unlikely it would have survive the years. Wilardy Originals are considered the most collectible of all the acrylic purses.  Founded in New York City in 1946, the family-run Wilardy company continued designing and manufacturing Lucite purses until 1979. Bag 8-1/4” X 3-1/2” X 2-1/2” at its deepest.

Pale teal Leather Bag with scenes of Japan painted in black on both sides of the bag. The bag has a round flip up top framed with nickel plate and decorated with a series of chrysanthemum, the Imperial Seal of Japan. Mt. Fuji is in the center of the flip up top. The back scene includes Japanese skiffs. At the bottom of the bag there is green glass bead with narrow corded threads hanging down. Oval shaped bag with wide bottom is 6” across at center and 8” long. Has a looped leather handle for holding. It might have been designed for tourists and probably dates before WWII.

Petit-Bead purse covered overall with tiny very bright and shiny ivory plastic beads except where there are embroidered pink flowers and green leaves covered with a square of tiny clear beads in a checkerboard type pattern.. Outside metal frame covered with the white beads, inside frame in gold tone finish and a gold tone and white bead kiss lock closure and beaded handle. Ivory lining, inside pocket with separate envelope style coin purse with snap closure. Sewed to the inside flap is a silver colored plastic penny size coin with a picture of Jesus stamped on one side with the words “Sacred Heart of Jesus with the Kingdom Come,” and a picture of Mary and baby Jesus on the other side with the words“Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Jesus Pray for us.” I have no ideas if the bag was bought with the coin. The inside pocket says, “By Lumured Petite Bead, Made in USA” with a patent number that is difficult to read. Bag is 11” wide at the bottom edge and 7-1/2” long.

Corde’ handbags were created using rows of gimp in unique patterns stitched to a fabric background. In the early 1940s Sears Roebuck & Company Catalog advertised corde bags for $7.50. DATE: 1940s. Soft corde’ zipper bag, the top and sides are shaped like butterfly wings. It is stitched in a zig zag pattern with scalloped edges and gathered at the center in soft folds that attach to a center flap. Beneath the “wings” there is a triangle of several straight rows that are 8” across at the bottom. From the top of the wings to the bottom edge is 7-1/2.” Black fabric lining. A decorative twisted lucite loop is attached to the zipper with a short 6 link chain and corde’ jump ring. It was common for women to make corde’ bags and this bag may have been made from a purchased pattern.

Corde’ handbags were created using rows of gimp in unique patterns stitched to a fabric background. In the early 1940s Sears Roebuck & Company Catalog advertised corde bags for $7.50. DATE: 1940s. Structured corde’ underarm bag in shell stitch with a zipper and black lining with a pocket. It is embellished with a satiny magenta rose with 3 green leaves. The rose may not have been original to the bag. It is lined in black with a pocket. Bag 15” x 9” x 2.”