RESEARCH
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...
Royal Purses
ROYAL PURSES Author: Barbara Catanese Purses that belonged to particular people are always charming; as for me I have a deep penchant for history. Therefore when, some time ago, I succeeded in acquiring this purse, I was overwhelmed by strong emotions. As you...
A Woman Seen Through The Eye of Her Needle
A woman seen through the eye of her needle: A reflection on the importance of workbags in the past centuries Author: Barbara Catanese Rome, 18th May 2017 “A workbag seems to be such a common name for a lovely creation” and indeed the seventeenth and even more the...
The Original “Pink Ladies” Car, complete with Lipstick Holder and Pink Umbrella
Between 1955 and 1956, Dodge produced the first car specifically marketed to women, which came in pink exterior and a pink handbag.