The APCS does not do purse appraisals, but instead recommends that you seek the services of an accredited appraiser if you need a valuation. The American Society of Appraisers (http://www.appraisers.org/) and the Appraisers Association of America (http://www.appraisersassociation.org/ can both help find an accredited appraiser in your area.
However due to numerous requests for values of purses, we have created this page with some suggestions and also quick links for you to search past auctions.
The elements that have the greatest impact to overall value are:
- Desirability of the purse design or maker
- Rarity of the purse design
- Condition
- Intrinsic value of the materials (silver, gold, jewels, etc) used in the purse
Arts Crafts Purse
Produced from 1900s through the 1920s, the bulk of these purses featured embossed leather designs and frames by Jemco. A typical design featured plants or flowers, birds or even abstract lines. Very rare examples include women. Manufacturers include, but are not limited to: Cook, Cordova, Kaser, Meeker, Roycroft and Volland.
Price range: $75 (entry level) to $500 (unique examples). Most average around $100. Rare Roycroft leather purses can command higher prices.
Search past eBay auction results
Celluloid Purses
Celluloid purses were produced from 1910 through the 1930s when newer and better plastics began to be used. Many purses are just celluloid frames with beaded, leather or crocheted bags. However some purses, especially dance purses are composed totally of celluloid.
Price range: $50 (for simple frame) to $2000 (very unique examples). Most average from $100 to $500.
Search past eBay auction results
Silver Purses
Silver purses can be found across hundreds and hundreds of years of history: Victorian, Edwardian, Aesthetic, Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts and Art Deco. The styles vary broadly: mesh, chatelaines, card cases and many more.
Price range: $75 (for small, plain chatelaine) to $3000+ (very special examples). Most average from $300 to $900. Prices for silver purses, while impact by usual considerations of condition, manufacture and desirability of the pattern, are also are impacted by the market price for silver and whether any precious stones are also in the purse.
Search past eBay auction results
Beaded Purses
Beaded purses are among the most desired in the world of antique purses. Beads have been used on purses dating back to the middle ages but those most collectors are familiar with date from the 17th through the 20th century. Beaded purses are knitted, woven, embroidered, netted, crocheted and worked in a horizontal and vertical looping technique called sable. Knitted beaded purses are the most prized and expensive, as are very early (17th c.) beaded purses and sable purses from the 18th century.
Price range: $50 to $5000. Prices are impacted by condition, design desirability and scarcity. The smaller the bead size used to make the purse, the more desirable the purse and higher the price .Prices are also impacted by condition, design desirability and scarcity. Also certain manufactures can command high prices like Wiener Werkstätte.
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Enamel Mesh Purses
Price range: $75 to $900.