1920s Leather Bag

My mother found this bag at a garage sale, It looks art deco to me, but I haven't really dealt with accessories from this time period. Was thinking it was possibly 20s ? It came with a lot of paper work, checks, bank books, receipts, address book, poll tax receipt; some of the items are dated 1931 and 1932. Was hoping I could get help with description and dating. Many thanks !

 

Thanks !
I don't know if the documents are of value but I think I'll include them.

It reminds me of a purse from that movie 'Ironweed', that movie makes me sob for days but its so beautiful !

 

Wanted to add the pull on the frame top is labeled ' TURNLOC '

 

At a garage sale no less! LOVELY!

 

Lovely bag! Is there a maker's name imprinted on it anywhere? This with the green lining reminds me of a well-known maker of this style of bag (but I'm brain lapsing this a.m. because I can't remember the name!). I think it pre-dates the documents as well, but by how much I have little idea.

 

I also believe it to be earlier, though I don't know just how much earlier. Looks like it served right through the Depression years, admirably.

I have a somewhat similar one, (obtained via a swap) that has some markings inside. Can't recall at the moment; perhaps the name that Anne is thinking of. I will look and report back in.

 

Mine is Meeker, made in Joplin Missouri, of Genuine Steerhide.

Here is a neat page with a lot of these types of purses pictured:
http://www.morninggloryantiques.com/collectPursesAC.html

Yours is the cyclamen pattern one, scroll down a bit, to the right, and it is dated 1920 there.

 

And here is mine. I love it, and it has a lot of compartments, in a compact space:

 

Teens to very early 20s. These tooled leather purses with the frames were quite popular then with Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau motifs. They held up well, as you still see them today in pretty good shape. A frugal gal in a smaller city would have carried this right on through the Depression.

Are you thinking Jemco? That was a maker name from the era.

Joules, your is lovely and with the nylon lining, I would guess 50s?

Hollis

 

Hollis, I don't know. This is not my area, but I do think it is older. The nylon thing throws me too, as Nylon was introduced in the late 30s.

In the link above, Jemco is named as a maker of the hardware, as is Turnloc.

I'm not sure what brand the bag under discussion is, but Meeker produced a lot of the purses! (They closed in 1987.)
http://www.bagladyemporium.com/blu/index.php?n=Main.MeekerCo

 

Linn is correct. It is a little confusing when the Art Nouveau style is usually referred to as ending c1918. The style elements of Art Nouveau however were used in the 1930's and I came across a reference online to a chapter in Evelyn Haertig's book 'More Beautiful Purses' - 'Art Nouveau Leather Bags, all American made, including photos of the bags being made by both men and women in American factories. Art Nouveau leather purses, the 'day purse' of choice, and popular for 15 years, 1915-1930.' There is also a Denver Jeweler's Buying Guide 1932 which shows Mastercraft Handbags. Just google either or both.

So, I think this handbag or purse is in keeping with the dated contents. Always nice to have that.

 

Yes, that is what I was saying, the bag in question appears to be from 1920.

It's obvious that my bag is of a later date, though I'm not sure just what year it is. My purpose was to speculate as to the maker, and thereby lead to further clues, which it did. The identical bag is pictured in the first link posted, above, I do believe.

 

Thank you Midge! Great ad - so these certainly went on well into the 20s.

Oh - here's a thought. Would it be most likely that in general, receipts, etc. date the last few times the bag was used, before it was put away rather than when it was bought?


Hollis

 

No doubt true Linn, and that's great to know.

The OP's bag is identical (aside from condition), to the one shown in the eighth row down, on the right:
http://www.morninggloryantiques.com/collectPursesAC.html