Schiaperelli-Whiting and Davis Connection

P

Patentleathershoes

VFG Veteran
VFG Past President
Carolyn (raincitytreasures) and I were discussing Whiting and Davis (you didn't miss it - it wasn't on the forum..) and she was mentioning a Schiaperelli/Whiting and Davis connection in that S. designed some purses for Whiting and Davis at some point.

It interested me, so i thought i would throw the topic out for discussion. Does anyone know if there is any special way of telling which purses they were? Some special font in the label, etc?

I am assuming that they would not be so much the W&D's that we typically think of - the metal mesh evening bag with a pretty straightforward frame and would have been more of the atypical designs or something in alumesh.

Does any one have any thoughts on this or any additional info?

Chris
 
" In 1929 Paul Poiret created a new line of pouch shaped bags in either soldered mesh or beadlite enamel. .... Schiaparelli designed a Vanity Box in 1936 made of gold colored armor mesh with a mesh ribbon handel. ..."
Schiaparelli's bags were larger than the usual W&D purses. .

I have some photos I can scan.

Hollisj
 
Here we go - not all that exciting, actually

Hollis


bags.jpg
 
You learn something new every day, huh? I love learning about connections like this... thanks for bringing it up!

I just listed a W&D purse on my website. I'm not a big fan of most W& D purses.. but this one I liked. I don't think it's a Schiaparelli version, though ;)

While we're on the subject, I'd love date suggestions on it.. my initial thought is 60's...
http://www.elsewherevintage.com/whiting.htm


kristine
 
Thanks for posting that Hollis. I don't have one of the handbags either. that clears up a few things in my mind.

The initial conversation came up and lead to that was all started by this purse. (see link below). I was really confused about it because i have seen alumesh handbags in all sorts of shapes advertised as 30s and 40s both. They stopped with the metal mesh during the war so that blocks out a few years, and i was not aware of the alumesh being made post war. am not selling this handbag yet. (reality check: am i ever?) And i still was dicey on the frame being celluloid because it doesn't have the usual patina that i am used to detecting. This one is just extremely crisp and mint like it was never ever used.

Photos of Purse

Kristine, I am agreeing with the later date assessment on that W&D. And if the pictures are showing it accurately on the closeups and its not just the flash altering my perception, that mesh is a little beyond "the usual"

Chris
 
I love the frame on yours, Chris :)

And yes... the mesh on mine is a bit different than I've seen before, that's one of the things that drew me to it. Thanks for the validation ;)
 
i am actually stumped at what to call it. it looks like no aluminum or brass that i have seen. On the homepage of the whiting and davis site, they show close ups of metal mesh they are currently using but they haven't changed the brass mesh in years so it helps identify the brass versus aluminum plated...but yours is a stumper!
 
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