Whiting & Davis Figural Face Flower Frame Mesh Chainmail Gold Purse Evening Bag
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Rare vintage Whiting & Davis Co. gold mesh chainmail purse with frame that features a centralized face among leaves and flowers. It has a gold chain that is approximately 15" from t...
$472Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Whiting & Davis White Armor Mesh Drawstring Bucket Bag (c. 1950s–1960s)
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Honolulu, HI
Complete with its flawless original interior fabric label, this bag remains in a stunningly untouched state. Whether displayed as a piece of fashion history or styled for contemporar...
Whiting & Davis Silver Mesh Evening Bag with Chain Handle
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Vintage Whiting & Davis evening bag crafted in silver-tone metal mesh with structured frame.
Whiting & Davis Black Mesh Evening Bag with Orange Bakelite Handle
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Vintage Whiting & Davis evening bag with black metal mesh body, structured tortoiseshell-tone frame and orange Bakelite top handle.
Vintage Whiting & Davis Gold Mesh Halter Top, Evening Bag and Headband 3pc Set
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Port Saint Lucie, FL
Halter top and handbag both tagged WHITING & DAVIS MADE IN USA.
Whiting & Davis Gold Tone Chain Mail Crossbody Bag
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Elevate your style with the Whiting & Davis Gold Tone Chain Mail Crossbody Bag, a timeless and glamorous accessory that exudes vintage-inspired charm.
Vintage Whiting and Davis Chainmail Crossbody Handbag
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Super festive and fun vintage Whiting and Davis crossbody handbag! This is the perfect going out bag as the chainmail fabric is so special and eye catching but the crossbody style ma...
c. 1950s–1960s Vintage Whiting & Davis Jet-Black Armor Mesh Shoulder Bag
Located in Honolulu, HI
[Details] Brand / Origin: Authentic Whiting & Davis (Made in U.S.A.) Era: Mid-Century Modern Period / c. 1950s–1960s Style: Vintage Enameled Mesh Shoulder / Evening Bag Materials...
A carved Bakelite framed and cream enamelled mesh handbag, 1930s.
Located in Greyabbey, County Down
A beautiful bag made from cream enamelled segments all interlocked, in the style of Whiting and Davis, with a bold hand carved cream Bakelite frame and chain handle, with stylised fl...
Whiting & Davis Deco Colorful Mesh Evening Bag
By Whiting & Davis
Located in New York City, NY
Whiting & Davis colorful art deco mesh evening bag.
Whiting & Davis Gold Metal Mesh Cross Body Evening Bag Purse
By Whiting & Davis
Located in New York, NY
Gorgeous vintage Whiting & Davis gold metal mesh cross body evening bag with rayon satin lining and gold tone chain strap..
1930'S Whiting & Davis Gold Metal Mesh Wristlet Evening Bag
By Whiting & Davis
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
1930'S Whiting & Davis Coveted Gold Metal Mesh "Wristlet" Evening Bag.
1920s Whiting and Davis Colorful Mesh Bag
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Litchfield County, CT
Wonderful 1920s enamel and mesh whiting and davis bag. Some wear to a few mesh pieces in the design, but the overall enamel is well intact and crisp. Little wear to bag frame. 6.5&qu...
Antique Whiting & Davis Art Deco Mesh Evening Bag Circa. 1920s-1929
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Galveston, TX
An ornate, rare piece of history is this Whiting & Davis mesh purse, Circa. The 1920s-1929. This white-in-color antique chainmail purse is framed in gold with a decorative frame tha...
1950's Whiting & Davis Gold Mesh Handbag for Evening
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Oradell, NJ
This is a wonderful 1950's vintage, Whiting & Davis gold mesh evening bag whose frame is embellished with a row of clear baguette rhinestones.
Edwardian Whiting and Davis Dresden Multi-Color Mesh Bag
By Charles Whiting, Whiting & Davis
Located in Houston, TX
Highly collectible Whiting and Davis mesh purse. This hand bag features painted mesh with an Edwardian/Art Deco frame and a yellow silk satin lining with inside pocket and round gold...
1930s Whiting and Davis Art Deco Dresden Multi-Color Mesh Bag
By Charles Whiting, Whiting & Davis
Located in Houston, TX
Highly collectible Whiting and Davis mesh hand bag. This particular bag features wonderfully designed and painted mesh with an Art Deco frame and a mustard colored silk lining. The A...
Circa 1920s Whiting & Davis Dresden Mesh Purse
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Long Beach, CA
Circa 1920s to 1930s Whiting & Davis delicate gold tone metal mesh purse embellished with a bright floral motif, hanging from a bright gold tone metal frame. Inside is a pale-peach ...
1920s Whiting and Davis Blue Enamel Art Deco Clasp Mesh Bag
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Houston, TX
Elegant 1920s Whiting and Davis evening purse! This gorgeous mesh purse features a pressed art deco geometric triangular clasp featuring accents of bright blue enamel. The mesh body ...
Whiting and Davis Gold Mesh Frame Bag
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Gold evening bag in mesh. Fully lined. One inner zip pocket. Rhinestone embellished clasp. Includes original tag. Gold tone chain shoulder strap. Gold tone metal at top where the bag...
1950's Whiting & Davis Gold Mesh Handbag-Rhinestone Clasp
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Oradell, NJ
Whiting & Davis is stamped in the frame's interior and there is also a fabric label attached to the apricot silk lining.
Vintage Beaded Bag
By Whiting & Davis
Located in San Diego, CA
Wow! This bag is absolutely breathtaking! This bag features silver beaded detail throughout and one small chain. Interior is lined in silk fabric.
Whiting and Davis Silver Mesh Evening Bag
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
This Whiting and Davis bag comes to you in dazzling silver mesh with hardware to match!
Whiting & Davis Gilded Gold Hardware Mesh Evening Bag
By Whiting & Davis
Located in New York, NY
Whiting & Davis wonderfully elegant gilded gold hardware mesh evening bag is accented with a matching gilded gold hardware chain strap which measures 5 inches in height.
Vintage 1920's Whiting & Davis Mesh Purse Evening Flapper Bag
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Sparks, NV
FROM THE SUZANNE MOUNTS COLLECTION: Vintage 1920's Whiting and Davis Enamel Mesh Purse Evening Bag Whiting & Davis gold mesh purse.
1920s Opulent Art Deco Whiting & Davis Chain Mail Evening Bag
By Whiting & Davis
Located in University City, MO
1920s Opulent art deco Whiting & Davis chain mail evening bag The exquisite evening bag is designed with an ornate scrolled gilt metal clasp frame The delicate chain mail mesh purse...
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H 5.12 in L 7.09 in
Vintage Whiting & Davis Art Deco Style Chainmail and Crystal Evening Bag 1950s
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Wilmslow, GB
A Vintage Whiting & Davis Evening Bag from the 1950s. Featuring the most fabulous chainmail body, topped with an art deco style frame and crystal embellished fold over closure.
2000s Whiting & Davis Mesh Printed Bag
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
2000s Whiting & Davis printed mesh bag. Single chain strap, wears perfectly over the shoulder. Graphic multicolored geometric print. Inch long fringe. Fully lined interior. L 8" x ...
Classic 1950’s Whiting & Davis Gold Mesh Evening Handbag
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Atlanta, GA
This classic evening gold mesh handbag by Whiting & Davis will take you from deco to disco!
Art Deco 1920's Mesh Bag. Whiting and Davis.
By Whiting & Davis
Located in University City, MO
Impressionistic 1920's Dresden Mesh bag. Totally Flapper style. Think Daisy in The Great Gatsby! Painted, incredibly fine, knitted chainmail metal mesh in muted palette of red, blue,...
Art Deco 1920's Mesh Bag. Whiting and Davis.
By Whiting & Davis
Located in University City, MO
Impressionistic 1920's Dresden Mesh bag. Totally Flapper style! Painted, incredibly fine, knitted mesh in muted palette of pink, lavender, blue and gray. Gilded decorated frame. Su...
1940's Vintage Whiting & Davis Gold Mesh Bag with Rhinestone Detail
By Whiting & Davis
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
1940's Vintage Whiting & Davis Gold Mesh Bag with Rhinestone Detail. This bag is in very good vintage condition with wear consistent with its age. The handle is beginning to tarnish ...
Vintage 1920's Whiting & Davis Mesh Purse Evening Flapper Bag
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Sparks, NV
Vintage 1920's Whiting & Davis purse comprised of a gold purse frame and Dresden mesh. The bag is lined in silk and comes with a small metal backed mirror that we found in the interi...
C.1950 Whiting & Davis Silver Mesh Clutch Evening Handbag
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Atlanta, GA
This glamorous silver mesh evening handbag by Whiting & Davis will take you from deco to disco!
Vintage 1930's Whiting & Davis Mesh handbag original 1930's mesh evening bag
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Nashville, TN
This truly iconic 1930's Whiting & Davis gold mesh evening bag, is a true piece of fashion accessory history.
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H 5.25 in W 0.5 in L 8 in
Whiting & Davis Gold-Tone Chainmail Metal Clutch Bag With Chain circa 1960s
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
This stunning Gold-Tone Chainmail Metal Clutch Bag With Chain circa 1960s is a captivating accessory that embodies the glamour and sophistication of the mid-20th century. Crafted fro...
Whiting & Davis Gold Mesh Chain Mail Fringe Handbag, 1960's
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Atlanta, GA
This 1960's mod evening gold mesh handbag by Whiting & Davis will take you from deco to disco!
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.
Vintage and designer evening bags and minaudières are elegant accessories that can elevate an ensemble and add an air of sophistication.
Evening bags began as coin purses and pouches. They were practical accessories before travel necessitated large cases and handbags eventually emerged and became a fashion statement. Evening bags grew in popularity with both men and women and, by the early 14th century, included details like embroidery and fine materials such as silk. As women began carrying hand fans, calling cards and perfumes, the evening bag became roomier while keeping its compact charm. Some designers added a thin shoulder strap. Today, the simplicity of a clutch or luxury evening bag remains as stylish as ever.
Minaudières are ornamental cases designed to hold personal items such as jewelry or cosmetics. A version of a vanity case, the minaudière was pioneered in 1933 by Charles Arpels of Van Cleef & Arpels. Made from metal, it could be engraved, decorated with precious stones or lacquered. The decade saw the popularity of these jewel-like pieces and other evening bags with Hollywood celebrities and others.
Though some of the world’s best-known luxury brands followed suit, minaudières are now made by only a small number of fashion houses such as Judith Leiber, Chanel, Versace and Hermès.
Shop an array of luxury designer evening bags and vintage minaudières in a range of designs, colors and styles to complement any outfit on 1stDibs.