Whiting And Davis Co
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Decorative Boxes
Metal
Mid-20th Century American American Classical Collectible Jewelry
Acrylic
1970s American Evening Bags and Minaudières
Mid-20th Century American Evening Bags and Minaudières
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Retro Bracelets
Base Metal
Early 20th Century Tableware
Sterling Silver
People Also Browsed
1990s British Corsages
Antique Early 19th Century Chinese Porcelain
Ceramic
1990s French Evening Bags and Minaudières
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Overcoats
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
Mid-20th Century American Evening Bags and Minaudières
Early 2000s Italian Evening Gowns
Vintage 1920s American Art Nouveau Vanity Items
Silver
1930s French Opera Coats
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Vanity Items
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Evening Bags and Minaudières
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
1940s American Top Handle Bags
1980s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
1950s French Blouses and Tops
Early 20th Century Art Deco Collectible Jewelry
Metal, Enamel
Recent Sales
Early 20th Century American Evening Bags and Minaudières
Mid-20th Century American Evening Bags and Minaudières
1920s American Evening Bags and Minaudières
1920s American Evening Bags and Minaudières
20th Century Unknown Clip-on Earrings
Vintage 1970s American More Necklaces
Gold Plate
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Collectible Jewelry
Metal
Vintage 1970s American Modernist Drop Necklaces
Base Metal
1920s American Evening Bags and Minaudières
Early 20th Century American Evening Bags and Minaudières
American More Necklaces
20th Century American Art Deco Collectible Jewelry
Metal, Enamel
Late 20th Century American Collectible Jewelry
Crystal, Metal, Metallic Thread
Vintage 1970s American Egyptian Revival Retro Bracelets
Mid-20th Century American Evening Bags and Minaudières
Mid-20th Century American Collectible Jewelry
Metal
Early 20th Century American Evening Bags and Minaudières
Early 20th Century Canadian Evening Bags and Minaudières
Early 20th Century American Evening Bags and Minaudières
1920s American Evening Bags and Minaudières
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.