Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1980s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Silver Plate
1970s Unknown Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1980s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Gilt Metal
Mid-20th Century American American Classical Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Acrylic
1980s American Art Deco Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Pearl, Gold Plate
1980s American Art Deco Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1960s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Gold Plate
1960s American Modern Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1970s Egyptian Revival Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Gold
1990s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1960s American Modern Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1970s American Retro Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Mid-20th Century American International Style Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Crystal, Metal
People Also Browsed
15th Century and Earlier Italian Classical Roman Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Jasper, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Garnet, 14k Gold
1980s French Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
2010s Italian Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Sterling Silver
2010s French Contemporary Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Yellow Gold
1970s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
2010s Italian Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Gold
1950s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1930s British Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
2010s French Contemporary Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Gold
Early 1900s British Edwardian Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Carnelian, 9k Gold
Early 20th Century Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Sterling Silver
2010s Italian Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Rose Gold
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Metal
2010s French Contemporary Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Rose Gold
Mid-20th Century American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Recent Sales
1960s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1960s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1970s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Late 20th Century American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1970s American Victorian Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Rhodium
1970s American Victorian Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Rhodium
1970s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1970s American Egyptian Revival Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Mid-20th Century American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Gold Plate
1960s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1970s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1960s Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1970s American Art Deco Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1970s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1970s Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Silver Plate
1970s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1970s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1970s Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1970s American Retro Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Base Metal
1970s Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1970s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Gold Plate
1960s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Gilt Metal
1970s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Gold Plate
1960s American Modern Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Late 20th Century American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Gilt Metal
1960s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1970s American Retro Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Gold Plate
1970s American Art Deco Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Gilt Metal
1970s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1950s Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1970s Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1980s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Gilt Metal
1980s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Gilt Metal
1980s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Silver Plate, Base Metal
1960s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1950s Art Deco Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Silver Plate
1960s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Silver Plate
1960s American Retro Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Gold Plate, Brass, Gilt Metal
Mid-20th Century American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1970s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Silver Plate
1960s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1950s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1980s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Gilt Metal
1960s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Gold Plate
1970s American Modernist Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Base Metal
1970s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1970s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1970s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1970s American Art Deco Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Base Metal
1960s American Modernist Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Silver Plate
1970s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1970s American Retro Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1970s Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Mixed Metal
1970s American Retro Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1980s American Modern Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1970s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1970s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Metal
1970s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
1970s American Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry
Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Whiting Davis Retro Jewelry?
Whiting & Davis for sale on 1stDibs
You might not expect chain-mesh bags to predate sliced bread by three decades, but it’s true. The very first mesh purse was created by Charles Whiting (1864–1940) in 1892 while working for the jewelry manufacturer Wade Davis & Company in Plainville, Massachusetts. Whiting joined the company at the age of 16, and by 1896 he formed a partnership to purchase it, renaming it the Whiting & Davis Company.
While the original Whiting & Davis mesh purse was made entirely by hand — artisans hammered out the links and wove them together — the company developed a machine to automate fabrication in 1912. With the ability to produce more rapidly and prolifically, Whiting & Davis became a veritable mesh empire, creating handbags and purses in all shapes, styles and colors, including ones made from precious metals, painted with Art Deco designs and silk-screened with Impressionistic images. The purses became status icons for the stylish elite, particularly with the flappers of the 1920s.
Over the years, Whiting & Davis struck up partnerships with some of the most talented designers of the time, including Paul Poiret, Elsa Schiaparelli and Elsa Peretti, who used their mesh in elegant pieces for Tiffany & Co., propelling their popularity even further. After a brief hiatus during World War II, when Whiting & Davis produced radar equipment rather than handbags, the brand continued to develop an ever-expanding line of products that included clothing.
In the 1970s, Whiting & Davis accessories and clothing were the rage of the disco scene. By the early 2000s, everyone from Paris Hilton to Lady Gaga donned the brand’s mesh handbags.
Recent innovations to their offerings include color mesh and fine mesh, with the brand refocusing on fashion jewelry with the launch of a new collection in 2013 featuring a revamped vintage snake-bracelet design. The company has been based in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, since 1995, also supplying its renowned chain mesh for industrial uses like work gloves and protective applications such as shark suits for divers.
Find vintage Whiting & Davis mesh handbags, necklaces and other accessories on 1stDibs.