Design
mid 20th century (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
'Waldybags' was the name given to a particular type of luxury handbag sold by the firm H. Wald & Co. after the Second World War. They were characterised by and unusual decorative technique by which minuscule glass beads were applied to painted decoration, creating a glistening, textured effect. These handbags were popular with the British royal family. Although the firm is synonymous with this style of decoration, the decorative technique was in fact developed and executed by Florence Campbell, a Jewish-German immigrant who married a Scottish engineer and moved to England in the 1940s. She expanded her skills in German pen work, a popular past time for young women in Germany, to encompass a range of decorative objects including household items and shoes, as well as bags. The work was initially carried out solely by Mrs Campbell. Later she taught the technique to her niece, Joan Ashley-Biggs, and then the latter's daughter, Margaret Wood, who continued to design and paint Waldybags until the late 1970s.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | This mat is an example of the traditional craft of German penwork that was developed by Florence Campbell and ultimately led to her technique for decorating 'Waldybags'. |
Brief description | A painted dressing table mat on silk by Florence Campbell (c.1886-c.1970) |
Physical description | A circular mat for a dressing table, embellished on one side with German penwork decoration. The outer border of the mat is decorated with a band of orange, brown and black and the central panel is decorated with flowers of various colours. |
Dimensions |
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Credit line | Given by Mrs M. Wood |
Summary | 'Waldybags' was the name given to a particular type of luxury handbag sold by the firm H. Wald & Co. after the Second World War. They were characterised by and unusual decorative technique by which minuscule glass beads were applied to painted decoration, creating a glistening, textured effect. These handbags were popular with the British royal family. Although the firm is synonymous with this style of decoration, the decorative technique was in fact developed and executed by Florence Campbell, a Jewish-German immigrant who married a Scottish engineer and moved to England in the 1940s. She expanded her skills in German pen work, a popular past time for young women in Germany, to encompass a range of decorative objects including household items and shoes, as well as bags. The work was initially carried out solely by Mrs Campbell. Later she taught the technique to her niece, Joan Ashley-Biggs, and then the latter's daughter, Margaret Wood, who continued to design and paint Waldybags until the late 1970s. |
Collection | |
Accession number | E.4-2014 |
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Record created | November 19, 2013 |
Record URL |
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