About Whiting & Davis Purses
Whiting & Davis, a company founded in 1876 in Plainsville, Mass., is world renowned for making high quality mesh handbags. Vintage Whiting & Davis purses have become prized collector's items. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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Think of chain mail, which dates backs to the Middle Ages and knights' armor. It's similar to what Charles Whiting, who started as an errand boy for Edward Davis, is credited with making, when he crafted the first Whiting & Davis handbag in the late 1800s.
Construction
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The mesh is made by intricately weaving links to form a shiny piece of fabric-like metal. Materials used to make the mesh include: gold, silver, brass, aluminum and stainless steel.
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Styles
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Whiting & Davis bags comes in a variety of styles, from small drt Deco and Victorian purses to more contemporary shoulder bags and clutches. Celebrities Paris Hilton, Renee Zellweger and Paris Hilton have been spotted carrying them.
Value
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Considered to be shimmery works of art, Whiting & Davis mesh purses from the 1920s and '30s are particularly highly valued in the world of vintage accessories. Some sell for thousands of dollars.
Availability
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New Whiting & Davis bags can be purchased at the company's site, as well as retailers including Nordstrom.com and Endless.com. Antique collector's items can be found through auction and vintage sites.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of hobvias sudoneighm
