Judith Leiber Swarovski Crystal Spencer Bear Minaudiere
By Judith Leiber
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Judith Leiber Swarovski Crystal Teddy Bear Minaudiere in very good condition. Signature judith
Category
Judith Leiber Bear
Judith Leiber 1980s Swarovski Teddy Bear Belt
By Judith Leiber
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Get your hands on the Judith Leiber 1980s Swarovski Crystal Teddy Bear Belt—a whimsical and
Category
1980s European Belts
Recent Sales
Judith Leiber Bronze Kid Clutch, Pave Teddy Bear Closure
By Judith Leiber
Located in New York, NY
Charming clutch by Judith Leiber in bronze metallic calfskin with a pave teddy bear clasp
Category
1980s American Clutches
Judith Leiber Polar Bear Minaudière
By Judith Leiber
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
is a highly designed handbag by none other than Judith Leiber will catch people's attention from
Category
Late 20th Century American Evening Bags and Minaudières
Judith Leiber Swarovksi Crystal Brown Teddy Bear Minaudiere
By Judith Leiber
Located in Philadelphia, PA
ADROABLE Judith Leiber teddy bear minaudiere in excellent condition. Brown swarovski crystal
Category
1990s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
Judith Leiber Teddy Bear
By Judith Leiber
Located in NY, NY
This Judith Leiber Teddy Bear Minaudiere Crystal Small, crafted from gold, red, white rhinestone
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Novelty Bags
JUDITH LEIBER Rare Jeweled Bears and Semi Precious Stones Charm Belt
By Judith Leiber
Located in New York, NY
Super Chic Rare Vintage High-End Designer JUDITH LEIBER Jeweled Bear Bottom With Semi Precious
Category
1980s Italian Waist Belts
Judith Leiber Couture Silver Rhinestone Polar Bear Chain Strap Clutch Bag
Sold
H 5.5 in W 3.25 in L 4 in
Judith Leiber Couture Silver Rhinestone Polar Bear Chain Strap Clutch Bag
By Judith Leiber
Located in Chicago, IL
Judith Leiber Couture silver polar bear clutch adorned with rhinestone crystals. Features a push
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
Judith Leiber Wedding $4695 White Gold Tone Faux Pearl Rhinestone Bear Bag
Sold
H 5 in W 3.5 in L 3.5 in
Judith Leiber Wedding $4695 White Gold Tone Faux Pearl Rhinestone Bear Bag
By Judith Leiber
Located in Chicago, IL
Retails at $4695. This whimsical Judith Leiber Wedding minaudiere is shaped like a glittering teddy
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
People Also Browsed
Roberto Cavalli blue-grey and gold brocade-print silk corset mini dress, fw 2004
By Roberto Cavalli
Located in London, GB
▪ Roberto Cavalli silk corseted mini dress ▪ Blue-grey and metallic gold brocade printed silk ▪ Corseted bodice with asymmetric ruching ▪ Ruffled mini skirt with frayed hem ▪ Cors...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Mini Dress
NWT 2004 Roberto Cavalli Pink Print Lace-Up Corset Bustier Top
By Roberto Cavalli
Located in West Hollywood, CA
From 2004, this new-with-tags Roberto Cavalli bustier top features a vibrant floral paisley print in pink and tan tones. The structured corset silhouette includes front hook closures...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Blouses and Tops
Hermès Birkin 35 Black GHW
By Hermès
Located in London, GB
- Black - Exotic leather - Crocodile Porosus - Gold hardware - Two rolled top handles - Front flap closure with twist-lock fastening - Includes dust bag, clochette, keys, and padlock...
Category
2010s French Top Handle Bags
Yves Saint Laurent Zebra Print Waist Belt
By Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, Yves Saint Laurent
Located in New York, NY
Yves Saint Laurent Wide Waist Belt in Zebra Print Pony Skin from the 1980's. Wide curved shape with gunmetal D ring buckles and leather tab. Sits widely on waist over hips. Lined in ...
Category
1980s French Belts
Chanel Vintage S/S 1997 Light Blue White Princess Diana 97P Tweed Jacket Suit
On Hold|$9,900
Size: FR42
Chanel Vintage S/S 1997 Light Blue White Princess Diana 97P Tweed Jacket Suit
By Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in Jersey City, NJ
An exceptionally scarce and highly collectible Chanel skirt suit from the Spring/Summer 1997 collection, designed by Karl Lagerfeld. This exact model—crafted in a soft sky-blue and w...
Category
1990s French Skirt Suits
1990s Gianni Versace cream jacket
By Versace
Located in Capri, IT
1990s Gianni Versace cream jacket Totally made in italy Size: 42 italian size range
Category
1990s Italian Jackets
1990’s Moschino Vintage Red Leather Heart Bag seen on The Nanny
By Moschino
Located in Concord, NC
Iconic rare Moschino Redwall vintage rare patent leather red heart shoulder bag from 1995 as seen on Fran Dresher from The Nanny. Made in Italy Features bright red leather with gold...
Category
1990s Italian Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
Fendi Cappotto Reversibile in Visone Golden, Nuovo con Cartellino
By Fendi
Located in Basaluzzo, IT
Un capolavoro assoluto della pellicceria italiana firmato Fendi, questo magnifico cappotto in visone golden rappresenta una delle creazioni più ricercate e rare della Maison. Un mode...
Category
Early 2000s Manteaus
Hermès Smallest Mini Kelly Bag Pill Box and its Safety Pin
By Hermès
Located in Corcoué Sur Logne, Loire-Atlantique
Rare and Adorable Authentic Hermès Pill Box "Kelly" Bag shape The smallest Kelly bag ever made Will come with its original safety pin, allowing it to be hung Can be used to put ...
Category
20th Century Unknown Top Handle Bags
NWT $7380 Roberto Cavalli FW 2006 Metallic Gold Painted Velvet Sable Trim Vest 6
By Roberto Cavalli
Located in Montgomery, TX
New Roberto Cavalli Metallic Gold Painted Velvet Sable Trim Vest F/W 2006 Runway Collection Italian size 42 - US 6 ( will fit bigger size). Unique Cavalli Metallic Gold-Leafing Desi...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Vests
Emmanuel Ungaro S/S 2005 Purple Rhinestone Lace-Up Gown
By Giambattista Valli, Emanuel Ungaro
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning purple satin gown designed by Giambattista Valli for the Emmanuel Ungaro S/S 2005 collection. An iteration of this gown debuted on the season’s runway as look 45 modeled by ...
Category
Early 2000s French Evening Gowns
Roberto Cavalli Gold Bowling Bag
By Roberto Cavalli
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Vintage Exclusive Just Cavalli Golden baquette/bowling bag We offer more exclusive vintage items, view our frontstore. Details: 4 closing magnetic press buttons 1 zipper pocket i...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Top Handle Bags
Pale blue silk slip dress with flower appliqué Circa 1930's
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
Pale blue silk slip dress with flower appliqué. Tiny pleats under bust SIZE 38 (Fr) M
Category
1930s Slips
Christian Lacroix Vintage Striped Two Tone Blue Military Jacket, 1980s
By Christian Lacroix
Located in Sparks, NV
Vintage two tone blue blazer jacket by Christian Lacroix in diagonal broken stripes. Fully lined with front closure. Fabric content is 70% Acetate, 15% Wool, and 15% Acrylic. The mar...
Category
1990s French Jackets
Gianni Versace F/W 2001 Blue Marmot Fur Jacket Coat
By Gianni Versace
Located in Naples, FL
Gianni Versace F/W 2001 Blue Marmot Fur Jacket Coat Seen on Look 8 on the Runway in the beige color and on Kim Kardashian in the cropped version. Size IT 42 Condition: great vint...
Category
Early 2000s Coats and Outerwear
VERSACE 2005 Vintage Runway Espresso Brown Silk Dress Gold Medusa
By Versace
Located in Leonardo, NJ
Versace Vintage Runway FW05 Espresso brown silk Gold medusa hardware Sheer lace panel around waist Flirty flouncy hem Side zip Size IT44 Excellent Condition, minor feeling of wear, n...
Category
Early 2000s Cocktail Dresses
Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "Judith Leiber Bear", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.
Judith Leiber for sale on 1stDibs
When it comes to handbags, no designer can compete with Judith Leiber’s ability to create magic using opulent crystals and wildly imaginative and playful shapes. The Hungarian-born designer's lauded vintage minaudières (small, decorative handbags, often without handles or a strap) were made in the form of crystal-covered swans, cupcakes, lipstick, wads of cash, teddy bears and other delightful objects.
These dazzling objets d’art have been regularly seen in the hands of First Ladies, movie stars on the red carpet and even in the prestigious collections of institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art. And like many pathbreaking inventions in the history of design, Leiber's purses and minaudières were the result of a happy accident.
In 1967, Leiber began working on her first metal handbag. The piece in question was named the Chatelaine, and the design was a graceful drop-shaped purse in gold-tinted metal. But when the samples came in, Leiber saw that the bottom of the bag looked greenish and discolored as a result of the plating process. She had the ingenious idea of applying crystal rhinestones to the base to cover up the flaws. The fabulous bag was a huge success and would become her trademark.
Born Judith Peto in Budapest, Leiber overcame many hardships before her breakthrough. At the start of World War II, she was working at the Pessl handbag company in Budapest where she quickly climbed the ranks to become a master craftswoman. When the war escalated, she and her Jewish family were forced by the Nazis to live in a cellar of a ghetto, and several of her relatives were killed in concentration camps.
“I designed handbags in my head to get through the misery,” Leiber said.
After the liberation of Budapest, she married Gerson “Gus” Leiber, an American GI, and moved to New York. In 1948, she began working for the fashion house Nettie Rosenstein. One of Leiber's first major pieces was the handbag embroidered with glittering rhinestones and pearls carried by Mamie Eisenhower at the 1953 inaugural ball. In 1963, she finally set up her own company.
Leiber’s whimsical designs embellished with Swarovski crystals and semiprecious stones defied traditional notions of luxury handbags. She also created striking clutches and bags with leather and fine textiles from around the world. In her 65-year career, she designed over 3,500 bags, which have been worn by First Ladies including Nancy Reagan and Laura Bush, pop icons like Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez and celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner (who collects Judith Leiber bags).
In 2005, the Leiber Collection Museum opened in East Hampton, New York, as a permanent space to showcase her work. The minaudières remain coveted objects that are celebrated worldwide for their eclectic beauty and glamorous charm.
The value of a good handbag cannot be overstated — find vintage Judith Leiber shoulder bags, crossbody bags, sunglasses and other fashion accessories today on 1stDibs.
More Ways To Browse
Bronze Judith
Vintage Black Teddy Bear
Vintage Teddy Bears 1980s
Roberto Cavalli Astrology
Roberto Cavalli Porcelain
Roberto Cavalli Python
Schiaparelli 1930s
Sexy Blue Dress
Stretch Sequin Dress
Tadashi Vintage
Taffeta White Dress
Tartan Gown
Valentino Embroidered Dress
Versace 2014
Versace Dress Tresor De La Mer
Versace Oroton Dress
Versace Safety Pin Dress
Victorian Evening Gown