by Kathy Gunderson | Aug 20, 2026 | News, Purse News, Research
Purses carried in China were made for specific purposes. The heart- or pouch-shaped purse was used for incense and perfumes, the gourd shape held tobacco and aromatic herbs, the round and square purses were used for personal items and money. Other shapes were designed...
by Kathy Gunderson | Aug 19, 2026 | News, Purse News, Research
Asian textiles, via the overland trade routes, were first seen in Europe during the Crusades. In the 1400s-1500s, more Asian textiles were imported with an emphasis on European design. However, some Eastern design elements did make their way to the Continent and...
by Doris Coghill | May 4, 2026 | News, Newsletters
Greetings APCS members, Since purses are our passion, we should always feel proud of our collections. This edition of our newsletter mentions one of our own members, Ilene Hochberg Wood, who has an amazing purse collection and has written a wonderful book about it. It...
by Kathy Gunderson | Feb 24, 2026 | News, Purse News, Research
The rich textile history of India is exemplified by Zardozi embroidered textiles and costume. In this article we will discuss the history of Zardozi embroidery, its method of construction, types of embroidery, and the beautiful 20th century purses created by artisans...
by Kathy Gunderson | Dec 4, 2025 | News, Purse News, Research
When The Vintage Purse Museum’s curator stumbled upon a very worn, but extremely well-made petit point bag at a flea market, she was intrigued. It wasn’t until she got it back to her office that she found a tiny WWII-era ration coupon tucked inside. It’s always...
by Kathy Gunderson | Nov 23, 2025 | News, Purse News, Research
Art Deco turns 100! Barbara Catanese has a beautiful parure set from that time period, she shared photos with APCS to celebrate the 100th anniversary. The original Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes was held in Paris from April to...
