Blue kid leather hand bag, maker unknown, UK, probably 1960s

A small flatish bag of blue kid leather. The bag is squareish in shape from the front and the sides and volume for the contents of the bag are constructed using a simple purse-like v-shape with two triangular shaped insets providing the shape for the bag's interior volume. When the bag is shut, these tabs fold inwards to create the flatish square shape to the bag.The bag has an integral chrome handle the top. with a thin layer of leather surrounding it. The bag has applied cream leather flowers on the front, forming a decorative ring of small flowers around a larger deep set cluster and two smaller ones in the centre of the design. There are also decorative thick cream leather diagonal stitches up the sides of the bag and over the leather clasp, which closes the bag over the lower part of the chrome handle, by the use of a press stud on a leather tab, also decorated by two small cream flowers. The bag has a white kid lining with a small open pocket for a mirror. The bag opens at the top, top a maximum of 11cms in depth.

gift of Caroline McIntyre

This bag was owned by Caroline McIntyre (b.20/02/1954) around 1960. It is possible the bag belonged previously to her mother, as Caroline has no memory of the bag being bought for her, however, it does seem of a typically 1960s style. There is a photograph of Caroline using the bag in the Rf 2012-233
The bag is a part of a larger gift ranges in size and age group from the donor’s and her brother’s baby clothes throughout her childhood up to the age of about 14. This is a rare opportunity to follow the changing size, fashions and clothing choices (either her own or those chosen for her) of one individual throughout their childhood of the mid 1950s-1960s including those clothes worn for every day as well as those saved for best.

This bag is part of a larger gift of childrens clothes worn by a girl called Caroline (and some by her brother) spanning the mid 1950s-1960s. The range of clothing shows both the developments in fine quality brands, designs and fashions bought for her and available to many girls in the post war period and, through the increasing size and sophistication of the garments, charts Caroline own developments from a toddler through towards her teenage years.

B.308-2011