Lovely lady with a leather Arts & Crafts purse attached at her waist chatelaine style, circa 1910.

Probably inspired by William Morris' designs and Elbert Hubbard's Roycrofter molded leather book bindings and purses, there were many makers of these Arts & Crafts purses, as well as the fittings and the frames. Meeker (Joplin, MO), Enger Kress, Amity, Justin, Bosca (Springfield, Ohio) and Kranz of Cordova Shops (Buffalo, NY) are some favorite makers. Jemco and Turnloc made many of the metal fittings for purses. They were most popular from the turn of the century to the 1930s and are made of genuine leather.

   This 2-1/3" by 3-1/3" photograph of a stylish couple was taken in about 1920, and if you look closely, you will see that she carries a leather Arts & Crafts handbag.

MEEKER Arts & Crafts purse with floral motif, coin purse and mirror inside, 6-1/4" by 6-3/4".  This purse can be seen in Evelyn Haertig's More Beautiful Purses on page 133.   View    View   #P12724

   MEEKER "Madge Bellamy" purse with fitted mirror, pencil and comb inside, almost child sized at 4-1/2" by 4-1/2" with 10" handle, circa 1920. There was a Madge Bellamy who was a popular 1920s actress, and I assume that is the person after whom the style was named.   View   View   View   View   View   #P20496

   ARTS & CRAFTS  "K" within a diamond mark of Frederick Kranz , Cordova Shops, New York circa 1920, 8-1/2" by 6". Inside are three compartments with matching billfold and leather notepad.   View    View   #P12722

    ARTS & CRAFTS Justin little girl's size 5-1/2" by 5" leather purse circa 1920. This is unusual for it's miniature size, its floral engraved gold tone frame and its motif of olives and leaves.   View    #P17894

  ARTS & CRAFTS leather purse with three roses in a pedestal basket motif, 6" by 6" with 12" handle. This has an unusual silver frame with an engraved floral motif, circa 1920.   View   View   View   View   #P26686

     MEEKER Arts & Crafts purse with morning glory motif circa 1920, 6" by 6". Leather covered mirror and coin purse inside.  View   #P12725

   AMITY leather Arts & Crafts purse with unusual berries design, 6-1/4" by 6-1/2" with 13" handle, circa 1920.   View   View   View   #P26647

  MEEKER leather Arts & Crafts purse with stylized open flower and leaf motif, back strap, 5-1/2" by 5-1/2", circa 1920.   View   View   View   View   #P26642  

 MEEKER Arts & Crafts leather purse floral design, circa 1920, 6" by 7".  View   View   View   #P25076

    ARTS & CRAFTS purse marked "genuine steer hide" with a lovely wild rose motif, back strap, 7-1/2" by 6", circa 1930.   View   View   View   #P16552

       MEEKER Arts & Crafts leather purse with mistletoe design, front flap opening, 9-1/2" by 7" with double hand straps, circa 1920.   View   View   View   View   #P26640

     ARTS & CRAFTS leather purse with brass frame, medallion motif, built-in mirror (silvering gone), side pockets and 1-1/2" pill box.   View   View   View   View   #P26644

      ARTS & CRAFTS leather purse basket of sweet peas purse with Jemco frame, circa 1930. A lovely an unusual motif with the handle as is and one corner separating, 7" by 6-1/2". This page from the 1932 "Denver Jeweler's Buyer's Guide" shows a selection of similar Mastercraft purses of the same era.      View   View   View   Separation     #P25402  

   ARTS & CRAFTS leather purse with floral motif with back strap, circa 1920.   View   View   #P13325

  ARTS & CRAFTS leather purse with unusual bird motif, circa 1920.  This purse can be seen in Evelyn Haertig's "More Beautiful Purses" on page 132.   View   View   View   #P12727

       ARTS & CRAFTS leather purse with upside down lily and long stamen motif, 7" long by 6-2/3" wide.   View   #P20393

  ARTS & CRAFTS mini or child's purse with stylized floral motif, bow and florets on frame, 4-1/4" by 5-1/4" with 10" handle, stitching out in handle.   View   View   View   View   #P26643

      ARTS & CRAFTS leather purse with cyclamen pattern, 7-1/2" by 6-1/2" with 14" strap, circa 1920.  View   View   View   View  #P12726

   ARTS & CRAFTS leather purse with nuts motif, 6-1/4" by 6".   View   View   View   #P26703

    ARTS & CRAFTS  leather purse with stylized roses motif, 6-15/8" by 6-5/8"".  View   View   View   View   #P26704

   JUSTIN Arts & Crafts leather purse with floral motif, 5-1/2" by 5-3/4".   View   View   View   #P26728

  ART NOUVEAU circa 1920's  leather purse, brass frame with green stone whiplash style catch, 5-1/3" by 6-1/2".  View  #P20962 

   ARTS & CRAFTS  circa 1920's leather purse, gem set sterling butterfly frame. Measures 6-1/2" by 5-3/4".  View   View    View  #P20963

   MEEKER Arts & Crafts purse with geometric and foliate design, 6-1/2" by 8" with embossed green bakelite dangle, circa 1930.   View   #P25308

   JUSTIN Arts & Crafts leather purse with poppy motif, back strap, 7" by 5-1/2". There is a top toggle and drop missing form the frame of this purse, but it is still useable and operates perfectly.  View  View   View   View   View   View   #P26689

   AMITY Arts & Crafts leather clutch purse with retracting handles and an unusual Stephanotis floral motif, symbol of a happy marriage, circa 1930, 10-1/2" by 6". The leather on the snap front closure is worn but useable. Folds out accordion style with three interior sections and fittings for a mirror. This same style purse can be seen in Evelyn Haertig's "More Beautiful Purses" on page 135.  View   View   View   View    #P26682

   ARTS & CRAFTS leather purse with tooled design,  9" by 5/12", circa 1920.   View   View   #P20961

   ARTS & CRAFTS leather purse with fuchsia motif 6-1/2" by 7" with a 10" handle.   View   View   #P26688

    MEEKER Arts & Crafts leather purse with front flap and retracting handles. Folds out accordion style with three interior sections and fittings for a mirror.  View   View   View  #P20296

   MEEKER purse in Arts & Crafts design, 6-1/2" by 8" with zigzag motif and stitched sides, 6-1/2" by 7", circa 1935.  This purse can be seen in Evelyn Haertig's More Beautiful Purses on page 151.  View   View   View   #P26694

   REDERATS Arts & Crafts purse with morning glory motif, 7-1/3" by 7-1/2", stitching out 1" at bottom one side.   View   View   View   #P12725

   KRANZ Arts & Crafts purse with wild rose motif and an unusual shape and handles, 7" by 8", stitches out both sides and handle. Kranz is the mark of Frederick Kranz, Cordova Shops, NY.   View   View   View   View   View   #P13323

      ARTS & CRAFTS purse w/lily-of-the-valley motif, 6" by 6" by 14", handle as is.  View   View   View   #P13326

     ARTS & CRAFTS clutch purse with lilies and iris, 9-1/2" by 5".   View   View   View   #P13850

   MEEKER Arts & Crafts shoulder purse, 7 by 9-1/2"  View   View   #P22120

   ARTS & CRAFTS burgundy leather purse with chain handle, , 6-1/3" by 5-1/3" with 32" chain handle.  View   View   View   View   View   #P15951