RESEARCH
Reuse and Recycle – article by Barbara Catanese
Says Barbara: Even if I had been accustomed since my childhood to the idea of reusing, my wardrobe being based mostly on my cousins’ pre-worn clothes, I didn’t take much note of this process, as it was something perfectly natural to me. When I became a collector I...
A History of Fashion Artist Maria Monaci Gallenga
This fascinating article by Barbara Catanese highlights the life & history of Maria Monaci Gallenga. Born in Rome in 1880, she became a forerunner of artistic fashion style during the Austrian Secession and the Italian Renaissance. Read all about Maria: Flashes...
Perle fur Perle II – by Sabina Schurenberg
There was a PowerPoint Presentation given at the APCS Gathering in Charleston on 10/13/23. It offers highlights from Sabina Schurenberg's soon-to-be-available book, it is her third and final venture into the history of German beaded purses. To view the Powerpoint...
Plastic Purses – article by Wendy Dager
From (the always-entertaining) Wendy Dager of The Vintage Purse Museum: As promised, here's the link to the article I wrote about plastic handbags for The Vintage Purse Museum. It's very long and there were a lot of complexities (which I tried to simplify because I'm...
The Torse Bead
Surprise treasure - the TORSE BEAD Author: Vicki Schwager So.... what is it? And, why would a purse collector want it? “Torse” is French for twist. A torse bead is a twisted metal bead, more precisely a twisted French Steel Bead. Some silver and gold ones are...
La vie en rose – A Tribute to Women by BARBARA CATANESE
The twentieth century saw the beginning of a new era when women, more independent and self-confident, especially after the end of the first World War, were finally able to succeed in many fields, even in the artistic one, regaining the many centuries they had been compelled to stay at home with scarce, if any, schooling.
In The Shadow Of The Convents by Barbara Catanese
IN THE SHADOW OF THE CONVENTS Since the Middle Ages, both convents and monasteries have been the only beacon of light all along those difficult centuries, with monks copying classical books again and again and nuns preserving the arts of embroidering and lacemaking....
History of a Purse Maker: Schwestern Landsberger to Marketa
A few years ago I bought a micro petit point purse that has a sterling frame with marcasites and tiny pearls, and scrolled initials on the clasp. It’s very well made. The interior tag reads: Schwestern Landsberger Wien IX. Porzellangasee No. 43. In the pocket is a...
Souvenir Purses by Albert & Beate Friedhoff of Germany
This is a snippet from the article written by Albert & Beate Friedhoff on their souvenir purse collection.
The Perfume Of History: Sweet Bags (recap from Providence Gathering)
THE PERFUME OF HISTORY Sweet bags live againby Barbara Catanese PROVIDENCE The story of the sweet bags is strictly tied to that of perfume, therefore I propose to intertwine the story of both and guide you along the perfumed path I decided to follow. Speaking...