Skip to main content

Whiting & Davis Furniture

American

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.

2
to
1
1
1
2
2
2
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
34
5,230
4,014
2,455
2,235
Creator: Whiting & Davis
Vintage Whiting & Davis Evening Bag
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
A perfect elegant vintage American evening bag! All beaded by Whiting & Davis Co. - For You, now. With classic style and color, this vintage ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American American Classical Whiting & Davis Furniture

Materials

Acrylic

1950s Whiting and Davis Gold Mesh Jewel Closure Evening Clutch with Coin Purse
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From the mid-late 1950s, a gold mesh evening clutch made by Whiting and Davis, the company who invented superior quality metallic mesh design and fashion, from the late 1890s into the 20th century. The envelope shaped evening bag is complete with two enclosures, a matching gold mesh coin purse...
Category

Mid-20th Century American International Style Whiting & Davis Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Metal

Related Items
1950s Spanish Metal Dog Toy with Ball
Located in Marbella, ES
1950s Spanish metal dog toy with ball.
Category

Mid-20th Century Spanish Whiting & Davis Furniture

Materials

Metal

1950s Spanish Metal Dog Toy with Ball
1950s Spanish Metal Dog Toy with Ball
H 4.73 in W 4.73 in D 1.97 in
Vintage Leather Punching Bag, Heavy
Located in San Francisco, CA
Time to upgrade your personal gym to include a stylish punching bag? This piece is made of vintage leather and has seen some action though is in great sha...
Category

20th Century American Whiting & Davis Furniture

Materials

Leather

Gucci Italian Leather Wallet with Gold Knott Closure and Coin Holder
By Gucci
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A superb Folding leather Gucci Wallet with Gold Knott closure and coin holder on the opposing side.. signed Gucci and Stamped Gucci Italy. The Trifold ...
Category

20th Century Italian Modern Whiting & Davis Furniture

Materials

Gold, Brass

Antique Victorian Pool Scoreboard and 2 Prints Palmer & Sons-Joe Davis
Located in London, GB
This is an excellent antique mahogany pool scoreboard by Palmer & Sons, London late 19th century in date. This is one of the best examples of a pool scoreboard, with nine slides and a moulded pediment above the maker's label: PALMER & SONS, 111, HIGH STREET, BORO', LONDON Together with two prints in oak frames, THE RULES OF POOL & THE RULES OF PYRAMID POOL, Burroughes & Watts, London. Provenance: Sotheby's Belgravia sale on 6th December 1979 of World Champion Billiards/Snooker player 'Joe Davis' This is a fun piece which is sure to attract a lot of attention from your guests and be a welcome addition to any games room.. THE BOTANICAL NAME FOR THE MAHOGANY THIS ITEM IS MADE OF IS SWIETENIA MACROPHYLLA AND THIS TYPE OF MAHOGANY IS NOT SUBJECT TO CITES REGULATION. Condition: In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 65 x width 44 x depth 9 - scoreboard Height 58 x width 41 x depth 2.5 - print with frame Dimensions in inches: Height 25.6 x width 17.3 x depth 3.5 - scoreboard Height 22.8 x width 16.1 x depth 1.0 - print with frame Burroughes & Watts, London - firm, which would become one of the most famous of the English billiard table manufacturers, was founded in 1836 by William Burroughes in partnership with F. Watts. William had learnt his trade with Thurston's, and set up his new business at 19 Soho Square, London. He brought with him from Thurston's all the latest innovations for billiard tables, immediately starting to produce models with rubber cushions and slate beds. Even though the natural rubber cushions would give extremes of elasticity according to temperature, and the slates where only an inch thick, this was to be the future of billiard tables, and Burroughes and Watts were at the forefront from the very beginning. They were quickly recognised as a world-class manufacturer and received a prize medal for a table entered for the Great Exhibition of 1851, with a similar award being received at the subsequent London Exhibition of 1862. In 1860 they were making a modest 150 full-sized tables a year, but by the end of this decade production had doubled. In 1869 they followed the lead of Thurston's and improved their cushions with "vulcanised" rubber, which were designed to minimise the effect of temperature variations. The business now looked for expansion away from London, and in the early 1870's they opened up branches in Dublin and Belfast. At this time most tables in Ireland were made with cast iron frames, and the wooden framed Burroughes & Watts tables proved popular with the locals. In 1873 the company secured a major contract for billiard tables to "Her Majesty's War Department and Admiralty" and around the same time received the warrant of Queen Victorian and Edward, Prince of Wales. The following year, the champion, William Cook...
Category

1890s English Victorian Antique Whiting & Davis Furniture

Materials

Mahogany, Oak

Vintage Davis Tennis Racket with Press, USA 1970s
Located in South Salem, NY
This vintage Davis tennis racket boasts a timeless allure with its leather-bound handle, well preserved to showcase its original charm. The handle remains strong, offering a comforta...
Category

1970s American Vintage Whiting & Davis Furniture

Materials

Wood

Anna Hu: Symphony of Jewels Opus II Book by Janet Zapata with Sarah Davis
Located in New York, NY
Anna Hu: Symphony of Jewels Opus II By: Janet Zapata with Sarah Davis Foreword by François Curiel Anna Hu is a focused and single-minded artist, reaching new ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Whiting & Davis Furniture

Materials

Paper

1920s Whiting Sculptoscope Coin Op Stereo Card Viewer
Located in Peekskill, NY
Original whiting sculpt scope coin-operated stereo card viewer from the 1920s. Deposit a penny, pull trigger and look through the viewer to flip through st...
Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Whiting & Davis Furniture

Materials

Steel

Vintage Sajai Metal and Agate Scroll Box Coin Purse, Handmade in India
By Rajhastani
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Sajai metal and agate talisman box coin purse, Handmade in India, Handmade Sajai metal cross body purse with multi-colored agates and intric...
Category

Mid-20th Century Indian Agra Whiting & Davis Furniture

Materials

Stone, Agate, Metal

1950s, Miriam Haskell Mineral Jewel Parure Set Vintage Designer Costume Jewlery
By Miriam Haskell
Located in Hyattsville, MD
All pieces are signed Miriam Haskell. No broken or cracked pieces. Some patina noticed on the brass hardware. Necklace L: 16.5 in. Nine strands of orange, pink, russet & lime dia...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Whiting & Davis Furniture

Materials

Art Glass

1950s fine Tooled Leather Western Theme Ladies Handbag Purse
Located in Ferndale, MI
Nicely and highly tooled western theme leather purse . Decorated on both sides and the interior . Open the flap to find red interior and equestrian embellishment . Wonderful conditi...
Category

Mid-20th Century American American Classical Whiting & Davis Furniture

Materials

Leather

Davis Hall Nantucket South Shoal Lightship Hand Woven Basket, circa 1870s
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful and quite rare and hard to find nantucket lightship basket by Davis Hall, (1828-1906). Hall's baskets are prized by collectors of lightship baskets worldwide. This basket is made with his traditional swing handle and rounded lollipop connecting two ends. Hall cultivated his basket-making skill on the South shoal lightship after the American Civil War...
Category

Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Whiting & Davis Furniture

Materials

Wood, Cane, Rattan

Vintage Model Wood House
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Vintage model wood house featuring front portico and door with many windows and four dormers. House has interior bulb that functions to light interior a...
Category

20th Century American American Classical Whiting & Davis Furniture

Materials

Wood

Vintage Model Wood House
Vintage Model Wood House
H 35.5 in W 34.5 in D 28.5 in
Previously Available Items
Whiting & Davis Company Mid Century Modern Gold Mesh Bib Necklace Choker
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Glamorous gold tone mesh necklace manufactured by Whiting and Davis Co. This high quality necklace drapes beautifully and has an approximately 10 ...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Whiting & Davis Furniture

Materials

Metal

Antique Whiting Davis Art Deco Enamel Mesh Bag Purse Ming Clasp Flapper Boho
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique whiting Davis enamel mesh coin purse or handbag with a fountain design in orange, blue and turquoise and a silver tone Chinese/Ming inspi...
Category

Early 20th Century Art Deco Whiting & Davis Furniture

Materials

Metal, Enamel

1920s Whiting and Davis Sterling Silver Mesh Art Deco Evening Bags, Group of 3
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From the 1920s Art Deco era, a collection of three Sterling Silver mesh evening bags made by Whiting and Davis, the company who invented superio...
Category

20th Century American Art Deco Whiting & Davis Furniture

Materials

Sterling Silver

Whiting & Davis furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Whiting & Davis furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of stone and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Whiting & Davis furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Whiting & Davis were created in the neoclassical style in united states during the mid-20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by and Various Makers. Prices for Whiting & Davis furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $447 and can go as high as $555, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $501.

Creators Similar to Whiting & Davis

Questions About Whiting & Davis Furniture
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Stuart Davis's art style is largely Cubist. He used the hard-edge painting technique to create dramatic differences in color. Many of his works draw inspiration from jazz and swing music, and historians credit him with influencing the Pop artists that emerged later in the 20th century. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Stuart Davis art.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 25, 2024
    The Davis Cabinet Company is more than 90 years old. The company, founded by Lipscomb "Lip" Davis in 1929, grew out of a lumber mill operation located on the Cumberland River in Tennessee. Owners of the mill opened the Standard Furniture Company to put leftover lumber to use. Davis worked for Standard Furniture for eight years before he bought out the company and reopened it as the Davis Cabinet Company. Find a diverse assortment of Davis Cabinet Company furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 26, 2021
    White quartz, also called milk quartz, is believed to be a powerful healing and balancing gemstone. The white hue is caused by small fluid inclusions of liquid, gas, or both that are trapped during the crystal formation. Shop a collection of vintage and modern white quartz jewelry from some of the world’s top jewelers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024
    As a brand, Off-White stands for the symbolic meaning that late founder Virgil Abloh assigned to the color off-white. Specifically, Abloh explained that, to him, off-white is the gray area between black and white, light and dark and good and evil. These dichotomies mirror Off-White's approach to design, which combines elements of haute couture and casual streetwear. On 1stDibs, find a range of Off-White apparel and accessories.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 27, 2024
    Virgil Abloh founded Off-White. The late American designer and entrepreneur established the luxury brand in Milan, Italy, in 2013. Prior to creating his own brand, Abloh worked for the Italian luxury fashion house of Fendi. Find a wide range of Off-White apparel, accessories and furniture from some of the world's top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 27, 2024
    Off-White is so popular for a number of reasons. For one thing, fans of the label and the work of the late founder and designer Virgil Abloh (1980–2021) appreciate that its distinctive luxury-quality pieces are created with streetwear trends in mind. Collaborations with major brands like Nike, Mercedes-Benz, Louis Vuitton and the NBA also helped popularize Off-White and broaden its reach. Plus, many celebrities like Rihanna, Solange Knowles, Kendall Jenner and Odell Beckham Jr. have been photographed wearing Off-White pieces. On 1stDibs, find a collection of Off-White apparel and accessories.
  • 1stDibs ExpertAugust 17, 2021
    White ironstone is an antique pottery originally made in the United Kingdom. It was created in the 19th century as a cheaper, mass-produced alternative to porcelain. Shop white ironstone on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    White gold is an alloy composed of roughly 75% gold and 25% nickel and zinc. This alloy was originally crafted to mimic platinum.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 25, 2024
    Off-White is so popular for a few reasons. Many people simply love the brand's sneakers and shoes, shirts, hoodies and bags that are frequently emblazoned with bold graphics and the iconography of American metropolitan centers. The beloved late designer Virgil Abloh, the brand’s founder, also helped to extend the reach of Off-White through collaborations with well-known brands like Gucci, Birkenstock, Nike and Mercedes-Benz. In addition, many celebrities have been photographed wearing Off-White apparel, shoes and accessories. Among them are Camila Cabello, Bella Hadid, Nicole Kidman, Joan Smalls, Solange Knowles, Kendall Jenner and Rihanna. Shop a diverse assortment of Off-White apparel, shoes and accessories.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024
    Yes, Off-White is a designer brand. The term designer brand refers to a brand that features the designs of a particular person or group of people. Initially, founder Virgil Abloh served as Off-White's creative director and designer. Following Abloh's death in 2022, Sabrina Mandelli and Wayne Fitzell designed for the brand, and in 2023, Ibrahim Kamara took over as the creative director for Off-White. On 1stDibs, explore a variety of Off-White apparel and accessories.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    The antique white color is a hue that combines grey and white and has a bronze undertone. It is classified as a soft and warm off white.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 17, 2023
    Whether white furniture is nice is largely a matter of personal preference. However, many people like the clean, bright appearance of white pieces, and the neutral color is versatile enough to work with many palettes and interior design themes. Shop a selection of white furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Yes, Rolex makes several different watches in white gold, giving you lots of options. According to the Rolex website, its white gold is made with only the purest metals and meticulously inspected before being formed and shaped into the fine timepieces that you expect from Rolex. On 1stDibs, find vintage and contemporary Rolex watches from top sellers around the world.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 19, 2021
    Fancy white diamonds are dazzling opaque white diamonds. They have a translucent appearance that is similar to white moonstone. They contain minute particles that scatter light and cause the stone to look somewhat turbid white. Find a wide variety of fancy white diamond jewelry on 1stDibs today.
  • 1stDibs ExpertAugust 17, 2021
    White diamonds are more valuable the higher the clarity and lower the color. Because colorless diamonds are so rare, they are prized over yellower diamonds.
    1stDibs ExpertAugust 24, 2021
    Yes, white diamonds are considered to be more valuable. Since most white diamonds have a natural hue, the ones that have a higher color grade, excellent cut, and uncompromising clarity are more valuable than a white diamond with a tinge of yellow. Hence, the clearer and more colorless the diamond is, the rarer and more valuable it is. Find white diamond jewelry on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 5, 2021
    The best white dinnerware is a matter of personal preference. To select the best one, we suggest thinking about styles and price as well as your specific needs so you can find the best set for your preferences and budget. Visit 1stDibs for the most suitable dinnerware options to choose from.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 15, 2024
    A white Oxford shirt is a white dress shirt or casual sports shirt made of Oxford cloth, which is a durable and heavily structured fabric that consists of multiple weft threads that cross over an equal number of warp threads. Oxford cloth is said to have originated in a Scottish mill during the 19th century. The popularization of the Oxford cloth button-down shirt style, which is commonly abbreviated as OCBD, has been traced to when Brooks Brothers president John Brooks witnessed a polo match in England back then. He was so compelled by the fact that the players’ shirt collars were fastened to their shirts with buttons that he returned to the States and created a shirt design informed by the players’ garments. Oxford shirts now come in all kinds of colors and prints. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of shirts.
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 14, 2023
    What white sapphire symbolizes varies based on individual beliefs. Due to its color, white sapphire is synonymous with purity and innocence for many people. Others believe that the gemstone represents good fortune and protection from evil. White sapphire is also the birthstone for Cancer sun signs in western astrology. On 1stDibs, shop a wide range of white sapphire jewelry.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024
    Yes, Off-White is a luxury brand. Founded by the late American designer Virgil Abloh, the Italian fashion house is lauded for its hip collaborations and range of sneakers and shoes, shirts, hoodies and bags that are frequently emblazoned with bold graphics and the iconography of America's metropolitan centers. Many people see Off-White as a bridge between streetwear and haute couture because its pieces reflect the latest trends while featuring the fine craftsmanship associated with luxury. Find a selection of Off-White apparel, bags, shoes and accessories on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 26, 2024
    The brand Off-White makes Off-White clothing. Designer Virgil Abloh founded the brand in 2013 and served as its creative director until his death in 2021. Stylist Ibrahim Kamara took over the role in 2022. Shop a wide range of Off-White apparel from some of the world's top boutiques on 1stDibs.

Recently Viewed

View All