Passion for Purses

Women's purses are uniquely personal statements. Many antique beaded, textile, and leather purses have survived as treasured collectibles and new styles are fashion icons. > This exquisite new book examines the passionate history, art, and design of antique,vintage, and contemporary purses in an informative and accessible format. Over 700 high quality purses were chosen form private collections, including Cora Gronsburg, LLC, the premier dealer of antique textiles and costume in the United States. Many have never been published before, providing a fresh resource for collectors. Many pre-date 1860. <Chapters cover the history of purses; pockets; misers, charelaines; fabric, tapestry,and needle-work purses; leather bags; dance, compact, and evening purses; wirework and mesh bags; beaded purses; tortoiseshell, shell, and ivory tyles; souvenir and even plastic purses; and unique and very rare examples. Each chapter is arranged chronologically, allowing readers to see the development of purse design through time. Detailed photos show particularly unusual features. Sections on beaded purse repair, by Terri Lykins and the Antique Purse Collectir's Society, offers tips and a new opportunity for collectors. Each caption provides detailed discriptions and current values, and the extensive bibliography gives many resources for further reading. AUTHORS: Paula Higgins is a member of the Antique Purse Collector's Society and a collector of antique and vintage purses for the past 20 years. She has been a contributor to two previous books on anitque and vintage purses and she has provided appraisal services for antique purse collectors. In 2005 she was a speaker at the annual meeting of the Antique Purse Collector's Society. Her special area of interst is in early purses and early textiles. She lives in Georgia with her husband of thirty years. Lori Blaser is an avid collector if antiqe and vintage purses. She has acquired a large collection of purses dating from the 17th-20th centuries, requiring extensive research into the area of antique textiles and costume. Lori currently advises dealers and collectors on antique purses. She became a charter member of the Antique Purse Collector's Society in 2003. Lori resides in Southern California with her husband and children. << 737 colour photos