Rare Judith Leiber
2010s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
20th Century American Lever-Back Earrings
Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Gold
Late 20th Century Evening Bags and Minaudières
1980s Italian Top Handle Bags
1990s Evening Bags and Minaudières
1980s Evening Bags and Minaudières
Vintage 1980s American Fashion Rings
1980s Evening Bags and Minaudières
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Vintage 1970s Byzantine Pendant Necklaces
Other
1990s Italian Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
1970s Italian Shoulder Bags
1980s Top Handle Bags
2010s Italian Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
1990s Structured Shoulder Bags
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Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
1960s American Cocktail Dresses
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20th Century Top Handle Bags
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1970s Italian Duffel Bags and Carry-On Bags
2010s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
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Late 20th Century Clutches
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1950s French Evening Dresses
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21st Century and Contemporary Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
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Recent Sales
1960s American Evening Bags and Minaudières
1980s Unknown Top Handle Bags
1960s Unknown Evening Bags and Minaudières
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Miscellaneous
Late 20th Century Italian Handbags and Purses
1970s American Handbags and Purses
1970s American Evening Bags and Minaudières
1960s American Handbags and Purses
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1970s Italian Clutches
1970s American Handbags and Purses
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Late 20th Century American Evening Bags and Minaudières
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21st Century and Contemporary Evening Bags and Minaudières
Vintage 1980s American Pendant Necklaces
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1980s Unknown Other
21st Century and Contemporary Evening Bags and Minaudières
1990s American Modernist Link Bracelets
Gold Plate
1980s Unknown Other
1980s American Other
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
1990s American Tote Bags
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags
Vintage 1980s American Modern Link Bracelets
Other, Gilt Metal
1980s Structured Shoulder Bags
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Gold Plate
1970s Clutches
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Clutches
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
21st Century and Contemporary Clutches
21st Century and Contemporary Clutches
Late 20th Century Modern Portrait Prints
Etching, Aquatint
Late 20th Century Handbags and Purses
1990s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
1980s Evening Bags and Minaudières
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vases
Metal
1980s Italian Bucket Bags and Drawstring Bags
1970s Italian Clutches
1980s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
1990s Evening Bags and Minaudières
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
Late 20th Century Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
Late 20th Century American Evening Bags and Minaudières
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
Late 20th Century Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
1980s Unknown Other
Late 20th Century Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
Vintage 1980s American Modernist Brooches
Pearl, Gold Plate, Silver Plate
1970s Evening Bags and Minaudières
1990s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
Rare Judith Leiber For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Rare Judith Leiber?
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.