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Lovely lady with a leather
Arts & Crafts purse attached at her waist chatelaine style, circa 1910. |
The Arts & Crafts purses may have been 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. Some of my favorites are Meeker (Joplin, MO), Enger Kress, Amity,
Justin, Bosca (Springfield, Ohio) and Kranz of Cordova Shops (Buffalo,
NY). Metal fittings for these purses were made by Jemco and Turnloc and
others.
They were most popular from the turn of the century to the 1930s and
they 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. |
PURSE Arts & Crafts leather purse with Jemco frame,
elegant and simple stripe design on bag and flower and leaf design on pull
tab, circa 1935, 7" by 7-3/4". Illegible mark inside with
bull’s head logo. 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
View #P32271 |
CORDOVA Arts
& Crafts leather purse with floral motif, circa 1920, 7" by 7".
View
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View #P27863 |
JUSTIN Arts &
Crafts leather purse with rose and leaves design, circa 1920, 5-1/2" by
5-3/4".
View
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View #P28099 |
PURSE, "new Perle
at Noir color, fuchsia motif, fancy butler silver frame with Turn Loc
clasp."
Denver Jewelers Buying Guide, 1932 |
MASTERCRAFT purses.
"Handbags of genuine imported English steerhide with matching suede
linings."
Denver Jewelers Buying Guide, 1932 |
PURSE "star flower motif with Glo d’Or treatment, fancy rose gold finish
frame with Turn Loc clasp."
Denver Jewelers Buying Guide, 1932 |
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MEEKER Arts & Crafts leather 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
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MEEKER
"Madge Bellamy" leather 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
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View #P20496 |
ARTS &
CRAFTS "K" leather purse with the mark of 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 |
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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
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View #P26686 |
MEEKER Arts & Crafts
leather purse with morning glory motif circa 1920,
6" by 6". Leather covered mirror and coin purse inside.
View
#P12725 |
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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
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View #P26642 |
MEEKER Arts & Crafts leather purse floral design, circa 1920, 6" by 7".
View
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View #P25076 |
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ARTS & CRAFTS
purse marked "genuine steer hide" with a lovely wild rose motif, back strap,
7-1/2" by 6", circa 1930.
View
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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
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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
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View #P26644 |
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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 |
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BOSCA Arts & Crafts
leather purse with rose and leaves design, 6-1/4" by 6-1/4". The
Hugo Bosca company made their leather goods in Springfield, Ohio and was
founded in 1911. To read more about the company, as well as many other Arts
& Crafts purses, see the book "Artistic Leatherwork of the Arts & Crafts
Era" by Daniel Lees.
View
View
View
View #P28837 |
ARTS & CRAFTS leather
wallet with green-tinted embossed floral design.
View
View |
ARTS & CRAFTS leather
purse with lily-of-the-valley design, 6" by 6".
View
View #P28838 |
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PURSE Arts & Crafts
leather purse with morning glory motif and loop handle top, 7″ at bottom by
8″.
View
View
View #P26810 |
JUSTIN Arts &
Crafts leather purse with enameled frame and latch, tree motif, 5-1/4" by
7". View
View
View #P26804 |
AMITY Arts
& Crafts leather purse with pussy willow motif, 6-1/2″ by 6-3/4″ , 12″
handle.
View
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View #P26746 |
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ARTS & CRAFTS hand made leather purse with a wonderful rose and
leaves embossed onto the front, multiple pockets inside, circa 1920,
7-1/2" by 5-3/4". It is clean and nice both inside and out. The strap
folds across the top in a wonderful way, too. I am a rose grower myself,
so particularly enjoy this one!
View
View
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View #P39831 |
CORDOVA SHOPS Arts & Crafts hand made leather purse with a lady holding a
bouquet motif, pockets inside including a zipper one, circa 1920, 7-1/3" by 6".
This is an unusual design and one I had not ever had before, so charming! It is
also clean and nice inside and out.
View
View
View
View #P39830
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CORDOVA SHOPS Arts & Crafts hand made leather purse with a stylized
flowers design, circa 1930, 9" by 6-1/2". It is very clean and nice both
inside and out, a useable purse even still.
View
View
View #P39832 |
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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
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View #P12726 |
PURSE Arts &
Crafts leather clutch purse with 20’s photo, 8-1/2" by 5-1/2".
View
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View #P28008 |
PURSE Arts & Crafts
leather purse with leaf motif, 5-1/2" by 6-3/4".
View
View #P28095 |
CASE Arts & Crafts leather
case, approximately 3" by 5"
View
View #P28096 |
MEEKER Arts &
Crafts leather purse with wild roses design, 6" by 6-1/2".
View
View #P28100 |
PURSE Arts & Crafts
leather purse with daffodil motif, 6-1/2" by 6".
View
View #P28101 |
PURSE Arts & Crafts
leather purse with four flowers and leaves, 5-3/4" by 6". This has a leather
tab at the closure that is missing, but it does no affect usability or
looks.
View
View
View #P28102 |
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ART NOUVEAU
circa 1920’s leather purse, brass frame with a green stone and a 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
leather purse with
geometric and foliate design, 6-1/2" by 8" with embossed green bakelite
dangle, circa 1930. View #P25308 |
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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
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View
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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 |
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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 leather 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 |
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REDERATS Arts &
Crafts leather 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 leather 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
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View #P13323 |
ARTS & CRAFTS leather purse
w/lily-of-the-valley motif, 6" by 6" by 14", handle as is.
View
View
View #P13326 |
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ARTS & CRAFTS leather
purse with wild rose design, coin purse, circa 1920, 6-1/2" by 6-1/2".
View
View
View #P28394 |
THE GUILD Arts & Crafts
leather purse with floral motif, double handles, paper tag inside, 9" by 7",
2 broken stitches at the top right of the from.
View
View
View #P26805 |
PURSE "Meeker" with
5 compartments, 8" by 7" by 4-1/2" wide, adjustable shoulder strap, multiple
inside pockets, some wear on corners.
View
View
View #P19487 |
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ARTS & CRAFTS leather purse with floral design on the front, hammered frame with Turnloc fastener, 6-1/2" by 7", includes a well-worn billfold and the
original leather-backed mirror in good condition inside.
View
View
View #P31865 |
VOLLAND LetherCraft
marked Arts & Crafts leather embossed with stylized flowers and leaves
design purse, mirror inside, 6-3/4" by 7" with 11" handle.
View
View
View
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View #V31466 |
PURSE Arts
& Crafts leather purse with two-row poppies motif, circa 1930, 6" by 6". This
page from the 1932 "Denver Jeweler’s Buyer’s Guide" shows a selection of
similar
Mastercraft purses of the same era.
View
View
#P28097 |
ARTS & CRAFTS leather purse
marked "Nocona Bags, Better Made" frame marked patented 1915-1918, circa
1930, 7-1/2" by 6-3/4", handle 14".
View
View
View
View #P32838 |
ARTS & CRAFTS leather purse,
frame marked pat 1918, body 7" by 7", handle 12".
View
View #P32565 |
ARTS & CRAFTS leather purse
with Jemco frame, flowers and circles design, 6" by 6" body with a 10"
handle. View
View
View #P34526 |
JUSTIN purse enclosure which
states, "This is a genuine piece of hand-colored, hand-laced steerhide made
from a hand-tooled design created and executed in the shops of the Justin
Leather Goods Company and is guaranteed to be perfect in materials and
workmanship." |
JUSTIN Arts & Crafts Jemco
frame and steer hide leather purse with hummingbird and trumpet vine motif on the
front, 7-1/2" by 6" body and 12" strap.
View
View #P34786 |
BOSCA BUILT Arts & Crafts
leather purse with embossed floral panels both front and back, 1921 patented
closure, no missing stitching, body 5-1/2" wide by 6". Bosca
company made their leather goods in Springfield, Ohio and was founded in
1911. To read more about the company, as well as many other Arts & Crafts
purses, see the book "Artistic Leatherwork of the Arts & Crafts Era" by
Daniel Lees.
View #P36903 |
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ARTS & CRAFTS Meeker hand made leather wallet, 4-1/2" by 3-5/8" when
closed. This is in very good condition and has an interesting geometric
design as well. Inside it is marked "Meeker Made" and "genuine leather".
View
View #P39833 |
ARTS & CRAFTS Meeker 1930s hand tooled leather purse with scrolls
design, front pocket, all stitches in place. The body is 6-1/4" by
6-1/4", and this includes a pocket and a mirror on the inside. These
purses were all hand crafted one at a time.
View
View
View #V37770 |
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REFERENCES
"Artistic Leatherwork of the Arts & Crafts Era" by Daniel Lees
a wonderful book with not only great color pictures, but extensive
information.
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