$216Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Whiting & Davis Black Metal Mesh Wallet (c. 1950s–1960s)
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Honolulu, HI
A quintessential mid-century vintage wallet by the legendary Whiting & Davis, the premier name in metal mesh accessories. This elegant wallet features the brand’s signature fine ...
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...
Whiting & Davis Halter Top Vintage Silver-Tone Chainmail 1990s
By Whiting & Davis
Located in 'S-HERTOGENBOSCH, NL
Do you want to shine? This very RARE and exceptional 1990s Vintage silver-tone chainmail Halter Top by Whiting & Davis made in USA, is a one of a kind piece and hard to find a si...
Mid-20th Century Whiting & Davis Gold Metal Mesh "Beggars" Purse-Evening Bag
By Whiting & Davis
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Mid-20th Century Whiting & Davis Gold Plated Metal Mesh "Beggars" Purse-Evening Bag. This gold plate metal mesh gate top "Beggars" evening bag features a enameled rose motif encased ...
80'S Whiting & Davis Gold Metal Mesh & Leather Hand Bag
By Whiting & Davis
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
20th Century Whiting & Davis Gold Metal Mesh & Gold Metallic Leather Hand Bag. This unique hard sided clutch, cross boy or shoulder hand bag features a gold plate chain link shoulder...
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H 5.5 in W 3 in L 8 in
20th Century Gold Metal Mesh & Swarovksi Crystal Evening Bag By, Whiting & Davis
By Whiting & Davis
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
20th Century Gold metal mesh & Swarovski Crystal clutch style evening bag by, Whiting & Dab]vis. Features, gold plate metal mesh and Swarovski crystal adorned snap closure, chain li...
1920'S Art Deco Whiting & Davis Metal Mesh "Dresden" Flapper Evening Bag-Signed
By Whiting & Davis
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
1920'S Art Deco Whiting & Davis Metal Fine Ring Mesh "Dresden" Flapper Evening Bag. Features a gold plated high relief floral motif frame and gold chain link strap with a abstract en...
Mid-20th Century Gold Metal Mesh Evening Bag By, Whiting & Davis
By Whiting & Davis
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Mid-20th Century Gold Metal Mesh Evening Bag By, Whiting & Davis-Signed. This coveted, pristine for its age gold metal mesh evening bag features a gold plate scalloped metal frame wi...
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. Features a gold brass smooth frame with a 3.5" adjustable "Wristlet" style strap and ball & snap closure. Fully...
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H 5.5 in W 3 in L 8 in
20th Century Gold Metal Mesh & Swarovksi Crystal Evening Bag By, Whiting & Davis
By Whiting & Davis
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
20th Century Gold metal mesh & Swarovski Crystal clutch style evening bag by, Whiting & Dab]vis. Features, gold plate metal mesh and Swarovski crystal adorned snap closure, chain li...
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W 7 in D 2.5 in L 7 in
21st Century Silver Metal Mesh & Beaded Fringe Evening Bag By, Whiting & Davis
By Whiting & Davis
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
21st Century Silver Metal Mesh & Beaded Fringe Evening Bag By, Whiting & Davis. This new silver plate metal mesh with cut steel beaded fringe evening bag maintains the original manuf...
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W 3.5 in D 1 in L 6 in
Mid-20th Century Silver Mesh & Austrian Crystal Evening Bag By, Whiting & Davis
By Whiting & Davis
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Silver Metal Mesh & Austrian Crystal Evening Bag By, Whiting & Davis. This finely crafted and coveted piece features a silver and prong set colorless Austri...
20th Century Gold Metal Mesh & Chain Ling Handbag By, Whiting & Davis
By Whiting & Davis
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Mid-20th Century Whiting & Davis Gold Metal Mesh Handbag. This older, unique and pristine metal mesh handbag features a gilt gold metal frame with a soft metal mesh body and gilt gol...
80'S Whiting & Davis Gold Metal Mesh Flapper Fringe Evening Bag
By Whiting & Davis
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Whiting & Davis Art Deco style gold and ruby metal mesh floral motif 110th anniversary "Heritage" flapper bag. Features a fringe detail bottom and chain link shoulder s...
Whiting & Davis Metal Mesh & Swarovski Crystal Clutch Evening Bag
By Whiting & Davis
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Vintage Art Deco style Whiting & Davis gold metal mesh clutch evening bag. Features a gold/brass plated metal mesh soft body and hard gold/brass plated metal frame and snap closu...
60s Whiting & Davis Gold Mesh Coin Purse/Wallet
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Port Hope, ON
Twist closure and peach satin lining, this purse is in very good condition.
Vintage Whiting & Davis Gold Metal Mesh Wristlet Hand Bag
By Whiting & Davis
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Whiting & Davis wristlet style gold metal mesh handbag. The interior Whiting & Davis manufacturing tag is intact.
Antique Whiting & Davis Sterling Silver Mesh Flapper Bag
By Whiting & Davis
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Rare Early 1900'S collectors signed Whiting & Davis Sterling Silver mesh flapper bag wristlet. Incredible delicate and always sturdy this Whiting & Davis flapper handbag feat...
Whiting & Davis Art Deco Multi-Color Floral Mesh Bag
By Whiting & Davis
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Whiting & Davis Art Deco Multi-Color Floral Mesh Bag. This bag is in good vintage condition with wear consistent with its age. The design was painted on but some of the paint is comi...
DONNA KARAN Black Gold Leather Wallet
By Donna Karan
Located in San Francisco, CA
DONNA KARAN wallet in a black leather featuring multiple card and cash slots, and gold tone metal clip closure.Good Pre-Owned Condition. Moderate signs of wear, as is. Measurements...
LOUIS VUITTON black Epi leather ZIPPY Wallet
By Louis Vuitton
Located in Zürich, CH
100% authentic Louis Vuitton Zippy wallet in black Epi leather with an all-round zip, which opens to reveal multiple card slots, pockets and compartments. The design features silver-...
Whiting & Davis White Alumesh Purse, Circa 1940s
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage Whiting & Davis cream alumesh purse. enamel painted metal, gold metal frame, kiss lock closure, thick snake coil handle, navy blue silk faille lining. 👛 A wonderful piece o...
$368Sale Price|20% Off
W 7 in L 6 in
c. 1950s–1960s Vintage Whiting & Davis Jet-Black Armor Mesh Shoulder Bag
Located in Honolulu, HI
A stunning, near-flawless mid-century masterwork from Whiting & Davis, the definitive American pioneer of luxury metal mesh. This evening bag captures the sophisticated glitz of ...
Vintage Black Leather "Logo" Wallet / Checkbook Cover by Cartier
By Cartier
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice vintage black leather "Logo" wallet / checkbook cover by Cartier circa 1970s. The wallet features dual Cartier "C" logos embossed on the front and two brass corner guards...
Leather
Whiting & Davis silver mesh clutch with matching change purse
By Whiting & Davis
Located in New York, NY
Whiting & Davis silver mesh evening clutch has detailed rhinestone clasp closure. The evening clutch comes with a matching silver mesh change purse. Both items have the signature "Wh...
Whiting & Davis Silver Chainmail Clutch
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Adorable vintage Whiting & Davis silver chainmail clutch! Complete your going out look effortlessly with this timeless and versatile chainmail clutch. Features a gorgeous rhinestone-...
Whiting & Davis White Metal Mesh Purse
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Whiting & Davis purse crafted from white metal mesh with a gold-tone frame and matching hardware. The delicate mesh gives the bag a soft, fluid feel, while the contrastin...
Jean-Louis Scherrer 1980s Black Rhinestone Plastic Disc Clutch
By Jean-Louis Scherrer
Located in New Hope, PA
A chic envelope style clutch from Jean Louis Scherrer is made of small round plastic disks outlined in shiny black patent leather with a border of rhinestones.
Walborg Black Hand Beaded Envelope Evening Clutch Purse, Belgium – 1950s
By Walborg
Located in Tucson, AZ
Lightweight and flexible, this beautiful evening bag is glamorous thanks to its scrolling beadwork but remains more understated than most Walborgs due to its matte black fabric groun...
CHRISTIAN DIOR Black Leather Wallet
By Christian Dior
Located in San Francisco, CA
CHRISTIAN DIOR VINTAGE wallet comes in black leather with a folder design and inner slots.Very Good Pre-Owned Condition.7 x 3.5 inches Reference: 126035 Category: Wallet Mo...
Vintage Morris Moskowitz 1950s Black Ribbed Faille Evening Clutch Bag
By Morris Moskowitz, Morris Moscowitz
Located in Port Saint Lucie, FL
Vintage Morris Moskowitz black evening clutch, circa 1950s. This elegant handbag is crafted from richly textured black ribbed faille fabric with a subtle sheen and finished with a sc...
$100Sale Price|50% Off
Mulberry Black Croc Print Leather Wallet.
By Mulberry
Located in Amman, JO
Refined and timeless, this Mulberry black crocodile-embossed leather wallet brings effortless sophistication to your accessories collection. Crafted from luxurious croc-embossed leat...
Judith Leiber Oversize Snakeskin Buckle Pocketbook
By Judith Leiber
Located in Westport, CT
Extra-large Judith Leiber quilted snakeskin pocketbook with two long shoulder straps and buckle Front Design, in pristine condition with box and felt cover.
Animal Skin, Leather
LOUIS VUITTON Black Damier Embossed Patent Leather Wallet
By Louis Vuitton
Located in San Francisco, CA
LOUIS VUITTON wallet in a black patent leather featuring signature embossed Damier checkerboard pattern, coin purse on one side and card wallet on other, and snap closures. Made in F...
Louis Vuitton Black Box Epi Noir Boite 207378 Wallet
By Louis Vuitton
Located in Dix hills, NY
Date Code/Serial Number: MI0091 Made In: France Measurements: Length: 3.2" Width: 0.5" Height: 2.75" OVERALL EXCELLENT+ VINTAGE CONDITION (8.5/10 or A- ) Signs of Wear: Exte...
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.
An integral part of fashion, handbags and purses have been indispensable accessories ever since we began to carry around personal items. Level of craftsmanship, style and shape matters — from coin purses in ancient Greece to early 20th-century opera bags and onward, handbags have evolved considerably over the years to meet our needs and desires, whether or not you happen to be prioritizing functionality over a flashy exterior.
Once, a single “It” handbag ruled each fashion season. No more. Today, lovers of vintage handbags are savvier and have a wider range of shopping options. Nevertheless, classics created by the likes of Louis Vuitton, Dior and Balenciaga still rule.
“It is not a fashion bag — it is a statement bag,” says Mightychic's Debra Kent of Hermès's widely beloved accessories. “When you carry an iconic Hermès bag — Birkin, Kelly, Constance — no one knows how long you have been into this culture or if you are a newbie. Your status is validated immediately.”
First released in 1997, Fendi's Baguette rose to fame along with Carrie Bradshaw, the Sex and the City character portrayed by Sarah Jessica Parker. Recently, the design has seen such a resurgence in popularity that Fendi has reissued it.
They are part of design history, so owning a handbag has meaning. As New York–based fashion historian Sarah C. Byrd says, “You have made the choice to invest in this piece because you understand the value of it in the past and in the future to come.”
From a 1980s Chanel black leather quilted mini buckle bag to the rare Hermès Birkin 30cm Himalayan with diamond hardware to a range of 19th-century bags, find a rich variety of vintage and designer handbags and purses spanning numerous brands on 1stDibs — seasonal “It” designation no longer needed.