Antique Whiting Davis
Early 20th Century American Antique Whiting Davis
Other
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Antique Whiting Davis
Metal
Early 20th Century Antique Whiting Davis
Sterling Silver
People Also Browsed
1930s French Retro Antique Whiting Davis
Blue Sapphire, Gilt Metal
Mid-20th Century French Antique Whiting Davis
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Rose Gold, Gold
2010s American Antique Whiting Davis
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Modernist Antique Whiting Davis
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Whiting Davis
Ceramic
2010s Italian Antique Whiting Davis
19th Century Central American Rustic Antique Whiting Davis
Wrought Iron, Tin
1930s American Art Deco Antique Whiting Davis
Chrome
Early 20th Century Chinoiserie Antique Whiting Davis
Bone
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Whiting Davis
Metal, Spelter
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Whiting Davis
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Italian Antique Whiting Davis
Porcelain
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Antique Whiting Davis
Metal, Gold Plate
Late 19th Century European Late Victorian Antique Whiting Davis
Silver
1930s French Antique Whiting Davis
20th Century Artisan Antique Whiting Davis
Ruby, Gold, Silver
Recent Sales
Early 20th Century American Antique Whiting Davis
Early 20th Century American Contemporary Antique Whiting Davis
Copper
1920s American Antique Whiting Davis
1920s American Antique Whiting Davis
1920s American Antique Whiting Davis
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Antique Whiting Davis
Early 20th Century Canadian Art Deco Antique Whiting Davis
1920s Antique Whiting Davis
1920s American Antique Whiting Davis
Early 20th Century American Antique Whiting Davis
1920s American Antique Whiting Davis
1920s American Antique Whiting Davis
1920s American Antique Whiting Davis
1920s American Antique Whiting Davis
1920s American Antique Whiting Davis
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Antique Whiting Davis
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Antique Whiting Davis
Early 20th Century Art Deco Antique Whiting Davis
Metal, Enamel
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Antique Whiting Davis
1920s American Antique Whiting Davis
Early 20th Century American Antique Whiting Davis
1920s American Antique Whiting Davis
20th Century American Edwardian Antique Whiting Davis
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century American Aesthetic Movement Antique Whiting Davis
Copper, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Antique Whiting Davis
1920s American Antique Whiting Davis
1920s American Antique Whiting Davis
Early 20th Century American Antique Whiting Davis
1920s American Antique Whiting Davis
Early 20th Century American Antique Whiting Davis
1920s American Antique Whiting Davis
1920s American Antique Whiting Davis
Early 20th Century American Antique Whiting Davis
1920s American Antique Whiting Davis
Early 20th Century American Antique Whiting Davis
Late 18th Century American Art Deco Antique Whiting Davis
Enamel, Silver
Early 20th Century Art Deco Antique Whiting Davis
1920s American Antique Whiting Davis
Early 20th Century American Antique Whiting Davis
Early 20th Century American Antique Whiting Davis
Early 20th Century Canadian Antique Whiting Davis
Early 20th Century American Antique Whiting Davis
Early 20th Century American Antique Whiting Davis
Early 20th Century American Antique Whiting Davis
1920s American Antique Whiting Davis
Early 20th Century American Antique Whiting Davis
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Antique Whiting Davis
Vermeil, Sterling Silver
1920s American Antique Whiting Davis
1920s Antique Whiting Davis
1920s American Antique Whiting Davis
Early 20th Century American Antique Whiting Davis
Early 20th Century American Antique Whiting Davis
Early 20th Century American Antique Whiting Davis
Late 19th Century American Antique Whiting Davis
Antique Whiting Davis For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Antique Whiting Davis?
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.