Bakelite/brass clasp purse - date?

themerchantsofvintage

themerchantsofvintage

Alumni
This brown leather cutie measures about 11"w x 6"h plus clasp. It's lined in a taffeta (?) with a moire finish and has an attached (with thread/string) change purse with small mirror. The zip on one of the side pockets says Nu-Zip, Canada and there is a patent no on the back that I can't make out.

Sorry if I'm giving too much info - my questions are:

1) is this 50s? The style reminds me of 50s, but the bakelite/brass clasp looks older.

2) On one of the side pockets is an attached leather piece with two small pockets that are big enough to slide in something the size and flatness of a guitar pick - what would this have been used for?

THANKS!!



 
I have to say I think this looks older than the 50's. The combination of bakelite and brass reminds me of the early 40's. Even the shape of the bag is unique. Great bag!-Lorinda
 
Hi Deborah
This could be lucite or bakelite, either way it is a great little bag. I think it would look wonderful with a 40's suit. I would think the WWII reenactors in the UK would love this one.
Good Luck!-Lorinda
 
Deborah, I have pictures of two similar in my purse resource book. One says it is a chic 1930s brown calf afternoon bag with crome frame and faceted bakelite handle. This handle is hinged so that it can lie flat and the bag is then carried by a discreet leather handle at the back.

The other one is 40s and the leather looks just like yours. It says..capacious leather clutch bag in brown leather gathered in to cylindrical bakelite handles, threaded through leather loops. The design makes bold use of the new plastic materials available to handbag makers.

Will try to scan these for you when I get home from the office.
 
Thanks again, Lorinda! It is bakelite - my partner in crime is a bakelite expert and it's fun watching his technique on our outings. Rub, rub, rub, breath and a deep up close and personal sniff - repeated several times - the rubbing must produce heat and there is a particular smell apprently that my olfactory sense has difficulty picking it up.

Thanks, Carrie = it should be up today or by tonight and I will let you know when it's up. Here are pics of the interior with a pink guitar pick in one of the those small pockets.



 
Deborah
I wonder if those tiny pockets were meant for a dime or two for a phone call? Just guessing.
I am so glad your partner does the rub and sniff test. I hate it when people do the pin prick tests!!
I agree with Carrie this could easily be the mid to late 30's also. I have owned german bakelite and metal jewelry from that era that could have coordinated with this purse.
-Lorinda
 
Deborah
I like the idea of a guitar pick....the woman that owned this was multi talented and given to breaking out into song and with a tip of her tilt top hat collected phone numbers from good looking men, theater tickets and a few bills and a pair of silk stockings...after all it may have been war time and those were oh so hard to get....;)
Oh oh I am in one of my story line moods---Lorinda
 
Carrie, The first 10 months on eBay I wrote lots of fictional story lines with my auctions and had a fun following...met some really interesting people in the process.I think some customers wanted to be the women I wrote about...Probably time to do a few since writing straight ebay descriptions is boring me.... :D-Lorinda
 
Well, Lorinda, you definitely have the flair for it!

And I can see why bidders would be drawn to your colorful narratives, especially if they'd just been clubbed over the head by one of those auctions with the 10 paragraphs of "fine print" (in ominous BOLD CAPITALS, of course.)

What a nice idea--to have as much fun buying vintage on eBay as you would in a terrific, friendly shop...
 
Lorinda - you've really got flair. As I was reading I thought her name was going to be Jane Blond...

I'm afraid I'm quite dull, Carrie; so you'll have to use your imagination when it goes up before 10:00 this evening.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top