1980s Gucci Sherry Line Gold Tone Metal Soap Jewellery Pill Box
View Similar Items
1980s Gucci Sherry Line Gold Tone Metal Soap Jewellery Pill Box
About the Item
Gucci
Long before trend-bucking creative director Alessandro Michele brought his hallucinatory “Utopian Fantasy” campaign to Gucci, it was a modest Italian leather shop. Today, it’s an internationally renowned luxury house with an iconic logo, and vintage Gucci clothing, handbags and shoes are among high fashion's most covetable goods.
Guccio Gucci (1881–1953) admired the stylish suitcases he saw wealthy guests arrive with at the Savoy Hotel in London, where he worked as a bellhop. So, in 1921, after a stint at Franzi, a luggage company in his hometown of Florence, he opened a leather goods shop of his own.
At first, Gucci’s Florence business specialized in equestrian accessories. But as its reputation flourished, particularly among the English aristocracy, so too did its footprint. In 1938, he brought three of his sons — Aldo, Vasco and Rodolfo — into the business and expanded it to Rome and later Milan. In the mid-1930s, a League of Nations embargo against Italy pushed Gucci to experiment with alternatives to imported leather. Its woven hemp fabric from Naples, adorned with the brand’s signature diamond print, was a hit, especially among A-list celebrities. The material was first used on suitcases before finding enduring popularity on handbags. (No list of revered designer purses would be complete without Gucci.)
In the 1950s, Elizabeth Taylor carried one of Gucci’s bamboo-handled tote bags, another adaptation to material rationing. After Jackie Kennedy was seen sporting a slouchy Gucci tote in 1961, it was renamed for the First Lady. Then Grace Kelly, on a visit to the boutique in Milan, inspired Rodolfo Gucci to work with Italian illustrator and Gucci textile designer Vittorio Accornero on the Flora print in 1966. Taking cues from Sandro Botticelli’s Primavera, with its pattern of flora and insects, it was painted entirely by hand and featured no fewer than 37 colors.
In 1953, just 15 days after opening his first store on New York’s 5th Avenue, Guccio passed away at 72. The early 1970s saw store openings in Tokyo and Hong Kong, but by the late 1980s, Gucci was floundering. Rodolfo Gucci took charge in 1982, but family drama and lawsuits ensued. In 1993, Rodolfo’s son, Maurizio, transferred his shares in the company to Investcorp, ending the family’s involvement in Gucci. Dawn Mello, then-president of Bergdorf Goodman, joined as creative director in 1989. But it was Tom Ford, who took over as creative director in 1994, who ultimately revived the brand.
Ford’s racy ads, shot by photographers such as Mario Testino, stirred controversy. And his potent vision of sexed-up femininity — with “jewel-toned satin shirts unbuttoned to there,” as Vogue described his breakthrough 1995 runway show — was wildly successful. The new millennium brought new ownership — Pinault Printemps Redoute in 2004 — and a more toned-down vision from Frida Giannini, who became sole creative director in 2006. Alessandro Michele was named creative director in 2015, and the storied brand took a giant leap forward.
Find vintage Gucci clothing and accessories on 1stDibs.
- Address Book and Pencil Case Designed by Salvatore Ferragamo for V&ABy Salvatore Ferragamo, FerragamoLocated in London, GBSet of Address Book and Pencils designed by Salvatore Ferragamo for V&A, the Victoria and Albert Museum Collection in South Kensington, London hardcov...Category
2010s Italian For The Desk
- 1950s Harrods of London BoxBy HarrodsLocated in London, GBThis vintage Harrods cardboard box boasts the iconic 1950s logo in a deep burgundy hue. The original address label adds a touch of nostalgia and luxury to this elegant piece, perfect...Category
1950s British Boxes
- 1980s Christian Dior Silver Bauble Trinket BoxBy Christian DiorLocated in London, GBA treasure for collectors, Christian Dior Silver bauble trinket box adorned with the cartouche of the Dior insignia on the top, bearing the Christian Dior mark at bottom and stamped ...Category
1980s French Jewelry Boxes
- 1980S Fendi Zucca Address BookBy FendiLocated in London, GBThis 1980S Fendi Zucca Address Book is a sophisticated and timeless piece from the exemplary Italian house. Crafted with exquisite attention to detail, th...Category
1980s Italian For The Desk
- 1990s Salvatore Ferragamo Birds and Flowers Large Floor Cushion CoverBy Salvatore FerragamoLocated in London, GBSalvatore Ferragamo Birds and Flowers Large Floor Cushion Cover, rare statement piece, Made in Italy It is crafted from sturdy canvas and filled wi...Category
1990s Italian Pillows and Throws
$469 Sale Price45% Off - 1980s Gianni Versace Medusa Blue UmbrellaBy Gianni VersaceLocated in London, GBThis 1980s Gianni Versace Medusa Blue classic umbrella features a timeless design that was crafted with premium materials to provide you with an umbrella that will last for years to ...Category
1980s Italian Umbrella Stands
$278 Sale Price20% Off
- Chanel Black Quilted Lambskin CC Pearl Jewelry BoxBy ChanelLocated in Scottsdale, AZThe most coveted Chanel piece you could get your hands on! Get ready in the best way with this Chanel jewelry box made of the best materials. This...Category
2010s French Jewelry Boxes
- Chanel Quilted Lambskin Leather CC Pearl Large Jewelry BoxBy ChanelLocated in Scottsdale, AZThe most coveted Chanel piece you could get your hands on! Get ready in the best way with this huge Chanel jewelry box made of the best materials....Category
2010s French Jewelry Boxes
- Art Deco Cream Celluloid Box circa 1930sLocated in London, GBBeautiful Art Deco cream celluloid box. Measuring length 14.3 cm / 5.6 inches by width 9.6 cm / 3.77 inches, and depth 2.7 cm / 1 inch. The lid has a lov...Category
1930s Jewelry Boxes
- Exceptional Hermès Openwork Chiselled Silver Box Case RAREBy HermèsLocated in FRAbsolutely stunning Authentic Hermès Box The design on the lid is beautiful, very fine and delicate Made of openwork chiselled silver box Vinta...Category
20th Century French Boxes
- 1844s Victorian Sevres Porcelain and Bronze French Decorative Jewelry BoxBy Manufacture Nationale de SèvresLocated in Beverly Hills, CA1844s Victorian Sèvres Porcelain and Bronze French Decorative Jewelry Box Product details: Circa 1844 Porcelain w/ bronze detail Hand painted inside and outside Signed A. Marin on t...Category
Mid-19th Century French Jewelry Boxes
- 1920s MARIO Buccellati Italian Silver and Crystal Handmade Decorative Table BoxBy Mario BuccellatiLocated in Beverly Hills, CA1920s MARIO Buccellati Italian Silver and Crystal Handmade Decorative Table Box Product details: Circa 1920- 1930 Inspired by Renaissance motif Featuring hand- carved silver city s...Category
1920s Italian Jewelry Boxes
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
Explore a Century of Gucci Fashion in London
The iconic Italian label’s traveling exhibition has just arrived in London.
The Stories behind the Most Famous Luxury Fashion Logos
From Chanel to YSL, the logos of some legacy fashion houses spark instant brand recognition and have come to symbolize a kind of luxury that feels at once aspirational and attainable.