Mesh Scarf Whiting Davis
1980s American Scarves
Vintage 1960s American Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
Vintage 1970s Unknown Drop Necklaces
Vintage 1980s American Art Deco Drop Necklaces
People Also Browsed
Late 20th Century Mexican Drop Necklaces
Bronze
1940s American Wedding Dresses
20th Century Unknown Wedding Dresses
1960s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
1950s American Wedding Dresses
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Wedding Dresses
1910s French Wedding Dresses
2010s French Contemporary Fashion Rings
Gold
Vintage 1960s American Native American More Jewelry
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1980s French Wallets
2010s Italian Neoclassical Stud Earrings
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
1910s Vintage Bridal Gowns
1980s American Cocktail Dresses
1910s American Wedding Dresses
1950s British Wedding Dresses
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Contemporary Chain Bracelets
Carnelian, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Recent Sales
Mid-20th Century American More Necklaces
Gold Plate
1970s Scarves
1970s American Scarves
Vintage 1960s American Choker Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1970s American More Necklaces
Gold Plate
Vintage 1970s American More Necklaces
Vintage 1980s American More Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1970s More Necklaces
Mixed Metal
Vintage 1960s American Choker Necklaces
Gold Plate
Vintage 1970s American Retro Chain Necklaces
Vintage 1980s American More Necklaces
Brass, Gilt Metal
20th Century More Necklaces
Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Belts
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.