Whiting And Davis Jewelry
Early 20th Century Vanity Items
Other
Mid-20th Century American International Style Collectible Jewelry
Crystal, Metal
20th Century American Art Deco Collectible Jewelry
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Art Deco Collectible Jewelry
Metal, Enamel
20th Century American Collectible Jewelry
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1970s Retro More Necklaces
Base Metal
20th Century Edwardian Platters and Trays
Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Flatware and Serving Pieces
Copper, Sterling Silver
20th Century Edwardian Pitchers and Decanters
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1960s Cuff Bracelets
Mid-20th Century American Collectible Jewelry
Gilt Metal
20th Century American Art Deco Collectible Jewelry
Metal, Enamel
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Collectible Jewelry
Vermeil, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1970s Modernist Drop Necklaces
Base Metal
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Collectible Jewelry
Metal, Enamel
Late 20th Century American Collectible Jewelry
Crystal, Metal, Metallic Thread
Vintage 1970s Art Deco Clip-on Earrings
Base Metal
20th Century American Collectible Jewelry
Metal, Gold
Mid-20th Century American Collectible Jewelry
Metal
whiting-and-davis Biography and Important Works
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 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.