Handbag
1889 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
The term 'handbag' first referred to the hand-held luggage bags usually carried by men, but in the latter part of the nineteenth century practical and stylistic elements of the leather travelling bag, such as its metal fastenings and compartmentalised interior, ticket pockets and sturdy handle, inspired the new handbag for women, the precursor of the twentieth-century handbag. The very small leather handbags of the late nineteenth century, while extremely small, still alluded to the details of hand luggage with its pockets, complicated fastenings, locks and tiny keys.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Leather, crocodile (alligator) and kidskin, with chrome fittings. Bone (Bos Taurus/domesticated cow) |
Brief description | Brown leather handbag, 1889, English; crocodile skin and calf with a chrome clasp |
Physical description | Brown leather handbag with an external purse of crocodile skin, lined with kid. Chrome clasp and fittings, original key, circular chrome handle covered in leather with chrome links |
Dimensions |
|
Gallery label |
|
Credit line | Given by A. Weingott |
Object history | This bag is one of six late 19th c. bags given to the museum in 1956 by Arthur Weingott, a former employee of Selfridges said to have spent "the past fifty years in the handbag trade". |
Summary | The term 'handbag' first referred to the hand-held luggage bags usually carried by men, but in the latter part of the nineteenth century practical and stylistic elements of the leather travelling bag, such as its metal fastenings and compartmentalised interior, ticket pockets and sturdy handle, inspired the new handbag for women, the precursor of the twentieth-century handbag. The very small leather handbags of the late nineteenth century, while extremely small, still alluded to the details of hand luggage with its pockets, complicated fastenings, locks and tiny keys. |
Bibliographic reference | Nominal File MA/1/W1105 |
Collection | |
Accession number | T.61-1956 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | February 28, 2003 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest