|
Lucite Purses - Brief History and Buying Guide
Lucite purses got their start in the early 1950s, when post war
technology came up with the idea for a higher class of plastic
called "lucite". This material was ideal for use in boxy style
handbags and could be manufactured in opaque or translucent
color. Decorations were easy to add and included confetti,
shells, flowers, or just about anything else you could stick on
a handbag!
These purses became all the rage of bigger cities such as Miami
and New York City. It was love at first site between handbag
companies and lucite purses because they could be made into
unusual shapes easily.
The most expensive lucite purses were made by Wilardy of New
York and were showcased in major department stores throughout
the country. Of course with popularity came replication and many
cheaper versions were made.
Do you think you have found a genuine vintage high quality
lucite purse? The best of the designers were Rialto, Llewllyn,
Gilli Originals, Patricia of Miami, Evans, and Myles and Maxim.
These companies marked their handbags on the inside with a stamp
on the metal frames or a clear label. These bags are now
collectors items that sell for large sums but, unfortunately,
some of the clear labels have fallen off with age making
absolute identification difficult. Check the lucite purse over
carefully and realize that, if you are buying for an investment,
authentication is very important and if it cannot be proved as
real, your investment is worthless.
About the author:
Henrietta is a handbag designer in North Carolina and has an
online business at http://henriettashandbags.com
|
