Vintage Purses

My greatest inspiration for making beaded purses comes from purses created in the 18th and 19th centuries.  Most of these were made by individuals, although some were made, in the later years, by companies.  I often think about the women who created these patterns, without the technology and materials of today, and how they probably spent hours drawing and filling in little squares on grids, then stringing each bead individually, in sunlight or by candle light.  They were certainly women of means, as this process took many, many hours of leisure time.   

My favorite vintage bags are the scenic purses.  Most of them were made with very tiny beads, and so are highly detailed.  I love the castle purses and have tried to re-create some of them.  Floral bags are also inspiring, in that they usually feature fine shading and expert color choice.  Figurals, or purses that show people in leisure activities, are also beautiful and extremely detailed.  

Below are some of the Victorian, Vintage and Antique purses that have inspired me, and some of the purses I have created, based on these old designs.

Antique Birds

From the collection of

Nancy Van Der Puy

Baltimore

Antique Castle

Courtesy of Lynell Schwartz’s Purse Masterpieces,

photograph by Harry Barth

Lucerne

Antique Diamonds

Courtesy of

Tri-State Antique Center

Highland

Antique Fleur de Lis courtesy of Lynell Schwartz’s  Vintage Purses at Their Best

Antoinette

Antique Houses

Courtesy of

Tri-State Antique Center

Williamsburg

Antique Miser Bag

From the

Priscilla Bead Work Book

Fairhaven

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