Antique Purses?

foofoogal

foofoogal

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I recently acquired an antique Mandalian mesh purse. It is listed in a book for $1200.00.
It has small bead things than hang. My ? is how in the world do I store this purse?
In a box laying down in tissue paper, cloth? Hanging somewhere? The handle is a chain but I do not want to put stress on any part of this purse. Will wait till Christmas to try and sell as it is those colors.
Any help greatly appreciated.
 
You may want to check the date on the book. Purse prices have changed a lot on the last couple years, especially Mandalian and White & Davis. My friend the purse specialist (bead and mesh) says prices and sales have fallen off quite bit. I think you can store it flat in cloth successfully.
 
Yes, I do realize that. I once sold a Blythe doll for $75.00 thanks to a brand new price guide so I do my research and take price guides with a grain of salt. It is a very good purse though. Thank you.
In due time things always seem to come back around.
 
Hi,

What a wonderful thing to now have! I have always stored my antique mesh and metal bags laying flat, wrapped in a piece of old white cotton sheeting. They have remained in the same condition for decades, stored this way. I also wrap my silver mesh purses in old blue tissue paper and it keeps the silver shiny and bright and tarnish free.

Yes, prices on everything seems to have fallen dramatically over the past few years. Purses, hats too.
 
Thank you Barbara. Glad to know you can store these safely.
I think the key to prices is teaching the next generations to cherish the past. A dealer in business for 60 years and her mom in for 60 years once told me it goes in 20 year cycles this business.
I continue to invest in what I believe will give a return.
 
Foo Foo,

I agree 100% about teaching the next generation to cherish the past, and taking that into consideration when pricing your treasures for sale. Investing in beauty that you believe in, knowing it will give a return some day....I love the way you put that!

As for the 20 year cycle, that has not been my experience in dealing with vintage and antique clothing. With other antiques, maybe so, but not so much fashion which is influenced greatly by what is going on at the moment in the culture. I have sold vintage for over 40 years and I find no distinct number of years for a cycle, although certain items do rise and fall in popularity every so many years as trends get replaced and new young buyers come into the market. But 20 years is too long of cycle, especially since 40 years ago there was almost no vintage fashion "business" to speak of, just a few shops and random dealers who had foresight. And the hippies who bought it, and wore it out to rags.

Antique purses seemed to be THE big new thing to collect in the early 1990s and prices just got higher and higher. I was always finding them at rummage sales, yard sales and even shops and for low prices too. Books and price guides came out with sky high values, many collectors sold off their collections and made a killing, but 10 years later prices fell like they almost always do. But you know all this!

As you say, a well made thing of beauty is a joy forever. I am sitting on hats that I will sell someday, prices are not a factor, I just love to collect them. In time, hats, purses and other accessories will rise again in value.

I just hope it won't be another 17 years!!
 
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