ANTIQUE EARLY 1920\'S WHITING & DAVIS MESH HANDBAG PURSE-ENAMEL FLORAL DESIGN
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ANTIQUE EARLY 1920\'S WHITING & DAVIS MESH HANDBAG PURSE-ENAMEL FLORAL DESIGN :
$99.99
A SHIMMERING, EXOTIC BEAUTY...A TRUE WORK OF ART FROM LONG AGO...
THIS WHITING AND DAVIS ENAMELLED METAL-MESH EVENING BAG IS FROM THE 1920\'S AND REFLECTS THAT ERA\'S DESIGN ELEMENTS--IT HAS A SLENDER, FLAT SILHOUETTE, DECO-INSPIRED ZIGZAG \"FLAPPER FRINGE\" ALONG THE BOTTOM, A STYLIZED, WATERCOLOR-EFFECT FLORAL DESIGN IN BEAUTIFUL AUTUMN TONES--GOLDS, GREENS,RED AND A TOUCH OF PURPLE--AND A FINELY-DETAILED, BEAUTIFULLY WROUGHT SILVER-PLATED FRAME, CHAIN HANDLE AND CLASP.
THE MESH, WHICH IS ALMOST PERFECT, IS ENAMELLED IN A SOFT, ELEGANT STYLIZED FLORAL PATTERN. THE STERLING-SILVER-PLATED CLASP IS EMBELLISHED WITH DELICATELY ETCHED LITTLE SCROLLS AND FLOWERS...VERY INTRICATE AND TRULY LOVELY.
THE PURSE ITSELF MEASURES 6-1/2\" LONG (COUNTING THE FRINGE) X 5\" WIDE (OVERALL LENGTH WITH THE HANDLE IS 12\"); THE CHAIN HANDLE HAS A 6\" DROP.
THE BAG IS IN NEARLY-PERFECT ANTIQUE CONDITION. NO NICKS IN THE ENAMELLING; THE FINISH ON THE CLASP AND FRAME IS EXCELLENT. THERE IS A SMALL BREAK IN THE MESHWORK ON ONE SIDE, NEAR THE HINGE, WHICH RESULTS IN A SLIGHTLY LARGER HOLE THAN YOU WOULD NORMALLY SEE AT THE HINGE ON THAT ONE SIDE. I\'VE SHOWN PHOTOS OF BOTH SIDES FOR COMPARISON. I PERSONALLY WOULD BE HAPPY TO USE THIS BAG JUST AS IT IS; HOWEVER, IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO HAVE IT PROFESSIONALLY REPAIRED, I DO HAVE A REFERENCE I CAN GIVE YOU. I MYSELF WOULD JUST LEAVE IT ALONE.
I WILL BE HAPPY TO SUPPLY MORE/CLOSEUP PHOTOS OF ANY PART OF THIS BAG -- DON\'T HESITATE TO ASK.
ALTOGETHER THIS IS TRULY A WONDERFUL PIECE!!
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ANTIQUE MESH HANDBAGS...
Metal mesh bags were hand made by skilled gold and silversmiths as early as the 1820\'s. In 1909, the mesh making machine was invented by A.C. Pratt of Newark, New Jersey. By 1912, mesh handbags had become extremely popular and in demand.
The Whiting and Davis Company, located in Plainville, Massachusetts is the oldest purse company in the US and is responsible for a great variety of exceptional mesh purses beginning in the 1890\'s. Because of the immense popularity of the mesh handbag, other companies began manufacturing them, including the Mandalian Manufacturing Co., which became the chief rival of Whiting & Davis, until Whiting & Davis bought out Mandalian in 1944.
By the 1920\'s mesh bags were offered in a large spectrum of colors and fashionable designs, including enameled, Dresden and pearlized enamel finishes. Fabulous enameled flat mesh purses, known as armored mesh, were offered in varied colors and a constant parade of unusual patterns. Most of the bags made from 1929 to 1932 were patterned by silk screening where the baby ring mesh took on a soft, hazy, romantic appearance much like a blurred water color. This technique was done by hand over several days by applying one color at a time and allowing 24 hours of drying between colors. These pieces are truly a work of art.
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ANTIQUE EARLY 1920\'S WHITING & DAVIS MESH HANDBAG PURSE-ENAMEL FLORAL DESIGN :
$99.99