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Mesh Evening Purse
1950-53
Whiting & Davis Co.
USA
Metal, synthetic fabric
body: 5-3/4"h x 8"w x 1"d; with handle: 9-1/2"h
Gift of Archives and Special collections, Emerson College, Boston, Massachusetts
2016.001

Mesh Evening Purse. EXTERIOR: Gold-colored metal (possibly gold-plated sterling silver) mesh purse has trapezoidal shape that is larger across bottom and a bag that is seamless and hangs, in gathers, from its frame via a row of interlocking holes and small, gold-colored metal o-rings. Frame, of shiny gold-colored metal, features hinges on either side and is shaped like a 3-sided rectangle which is deeper across top than along sides; its top edges feature a cut-out floral-like pattern along them, slanted corners, and a rounded protrusion in the center where there is a pinch clasp. Clasp features golden balls at the end of curved arms set into the metal frame. Sides of frame curve inward at hinges. At top of frame there is a gold-colored metal chain for hooking purse over arm; it is approximately 10" long and secured via o-rings to holes at opposite ends of opposite sides of frame. Gold-colored, shiny metal mesh body of bag is made up of flat, interlocking octagonal disks, each measuring a little over 1/16" across, which are attached to each other via round, gold metal disks that are largely hidden behind them. INTERIOR: Frame "hollowed out" inside and features 1/8"-wide rim around its outer edges on both sides. Finish dull. Engraved on one side of frame, under clasp, is "TO SOPHIE"; on other side in the same location, "FROM ALICE 1953". On either side of frame, oriented along its proper left, is the raised, vertically oriented text, "2846". Stamped text is partly cut away along cut-out portion at top of each side of frame: on PR, possibly, "MADE IN USA"; and on PL, the logo of Whiting and Davis. Lining of bag, sewn to frame rings with golden-yellow thread, is golden-yellow shiny fabric (likely synthetic); it features a rectangular, open-topped pocket on the side that says "TO SOPHIE". Sewn along pocket's outer PR seam is a white rectangular tag, likely synthetic, with a manufacturer logo stamped on it in navy blue ink: (inside stylized outline) "MESH / WHITING & DAVIS CO. / BAGS / TRADE MARK REG."; "MADE IN U.S.A." underneath.