Gift of Mrs. Richard Koopman and Mrs. Bernard Schiro, 1980.87.15 © 2009 The Connecticut Histor ...

Woman's Handbag

Original OwnerOriginally owned by a member of the Lewis Fox family

Date1920-1930s

MediumExotic leather (may be Crocodile or Alligator) with brass hardware and calfskin and silk damask lining

DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (length x width x depth): 10 x 6 x 1/2in. (25.4 x 15.2 x 1.3cm)

ClassificationsCostume

Credit LineGift of Mrs. Richard Koopman and Mrs. Bernard Schiro

Object number1980.87.15

DescriptionLeather handbag with a single handle and snap front closure. Interior is divided into compartments lined with floral silk damask woven in pinks and greens on an ecru background with an Iris flowers woven into the silk.

A handwritten grocery list was found folded into an interior pocket; the list was written in pencil on a small sheet of paper and reads: "Vanilla Extract/ Lemons/ Potatoes/ Celery/ Lettuce/ Grapes/ Pineapple/ Oranges/ Bananas/ Cauliflower/ Strawberries/ Peanuts/ Beets/ Party Cups/ 1 Fresh Calves Tongue/ Coffee / Filet Mignon."

Collections

G. Fox & Co.

NotesHistorical Note: An important development in handbag design was the introduction of the "pochette," a flat, rectangular bag often without a handle or with a single handle to loop over the wrist for security. By the mid-twenties the most popular style of handbag was the flapped rectangular bag (per Vanda Foster, author of BAGS AND PURSES, p. 69,1982)

Status

Not on view