Museum

Jane Salfati Purse

Jane Salfati purses date primarily to the 1920s - 1930s.  She was a highly sought-after French Art Deco designer based in Paris.  Her antique evening bags are well-known for their ornate craftsmanship, often incorporating 17th and 18th century Persian silks, rich brocades, and elaborate beaded details.  It appears that Salfati acted almost like an art director: she combined brocades, Chinese-carved jade, coral, lapis lazuli, carnelian, marcasites, enamels, and silver/gilt metal frames.  

 Most Paris handbag makers bought contemporary silks.  Salfati instead seems to have been buying antique textiles, cutting them apart, and giving them new life.  

Amazing frame with onyx, enamel, marcasites, coral, and jade.  Original bag replaced with a black skin (lizard?) bag - the interior has a tag by Anton Moritz.  

From the collection of Stacie Hornell-Mason.

Details

Date: 1927-1935

Materials: Leather, Enamel, Onyx, Jade, Coral, Marcasites

Provenance: Paris

Designer/Maker: Jane Salfati

Markings: Anton Moritz

Dimensions: Unknown

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Submit your purse

We are always looking for more purses to add to the museum. From vintage to antique purses, you can submit them all using this online form.