Gucci Dionysus Bag
About the Item
- Designer:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Athens, GA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU99737098931
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Athens, GA
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Chanel Burgundy Boy Bag LimitedBy ChanelLocated in Athens, GAChanel Burgundy Leather Limited Boy Bag. Unique design and rich burgundy color. Silver hardware. Good condition. Guaranteed authentic.Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
- Chanel Multi-Color Jumbo BagBy ChanelLocated in Athens, GAChanel Multi-Color Jumbo Bag. Cream, black, tan with black leather chain strap. Most wanted size jumbo. Can be worn crossbody or doubled as a shoulder bag...Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
- Chanel Silver Metallic Jumbo BagBy ChanelLocated in Athens, GAChanel Silver Metallic Jumbo Double Flap Bag. Excellent condition. Unique silver lambskin leather bag. Silver hardware. Classic style bag with rare silver leather. Collector's piece....Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
- Louis Vuitton Bum BagBy Louis VuittonLocated in Athens, GALouis Vuitton Bum Bag. Monogram coated canvas. Good condition. Interior clean. Hard to find belt bag. Retired from LV. Can be worn crossbody too. Guaranteed authentic.Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Belt Bags
- Chanel White BagBy ChanelLocated in Athens, GAChanel White Bag. Antique gold hardware. Winter white leather bag. Excellent condition. Can be worn as a shoulder bag or longer. Interior clean. Looks...Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Shoulder Bags
- Chanel Large 2019 Grey BagBy ChanelLocated in Athens, GAChanel Grey 2022 Bag. Large size. Soft leather with two-tone hardware. Excellent like brand new condition. Interior clean. Light grey color that will go with everything. Microchip in...Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Shoulder Bags
- Hermès Evelyne 33 GMBy HermèsLocated in London, GBHermès Evelyne 33 GM Condition: Good Condition Colour: Brown / Grey Season: All Material: leather Box : Yes Dust bag: Yes Size:33 cm x 33 cm x 10 cm ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
- Dolce & Gabbana Marching Band Drum BagBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in London, GBDolce & Gabbana Marching Band Drum Bag This Italian-made piece is inspired by vintage marching bands and is crafted from wood upholstered in snakeskin...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
- D&G Metallic Grey Leather Golden Box Messenger BagBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2Start your day with this sophisticated and practical messenger bag by D&G. It is made from smooth metallic grey leather with gold-tone studs at the front along with a zipper pocket a...Category
2010s Italian Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
- 2016 Chanel White Marble Plexiglass Paris-Rome Perfume Bottle BagBy ChanelLocated in Bishop's Stortford, HertfordshireCHANEL White Marble Plexiglass Paris-Rome Perfume Bottle Bag Serial Number: 23076004 Age (Circa): 2016 Accompanied By: Chanel Dust Bag, Box, Authenticity C...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Structured Shoulder Bags
- Chanel Grey Quilted Lambskin Colour Match Mini Flap BagBy ChanelLocated in Bishop's Stortford, HertfordshireChanel Grey Quilted Lambskin Colour Match Mini Flap Bag Brand- Chanel Model- Colour Match Mini Flap Bag Product Type- Crossbody, Shoulder, Top Handle Serial Number- L2******* Age- C...Category
2010s Italian Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
- Chanel Iridescent Quilted Calfskin Leather Medium Le Boy BagBy ChanelLocated in Bishop's Stortford, HertfordshireChanel Iridescent Quilted Calfskin Leather Medium Le Boy Bag Brand- Chanel Model- Medium Le Boy Bag Product Type- Crossbody, Shoulder Serial Number- 21****** Age- Circa 2020 Accompa...Category
2010s Italian Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
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.