Elsa Peretti Tiffany & Co. Silver, Silk and Hand Woven Bamboo Museum Held Bag
View Similar Items
Elsa Peretti Tiffany & Co. Silver, Silk and Hand Woven Bamboo Museum Held Bag
About the Item
- Designer:Elsa Peretti
- Brand:Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co.
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Material Notes:Artisan hand crafted basket Natural bamboo Artisan hand woven silk cord & tassel Tiffany & Co. silver hardware
- Condition:
- Seller Location:West Palm Beach, FL
- Reference Number:Seller: cs1stDibs: LU28419893312
Elsa Peretti
In an era of social upheaval, venerable Tiffany & Co. designer Elsa Peretti reimagined diamonds as jewelry that working women bought for themselves rather than receiving it from a suitor.
By the time the Italian-born Peretti arrived in New York City, she’d already studied design in Rome, worked for a Milanese architect and taught Italian, French and skiing in Switzerland. She settled on interior design as her potential career path but then chose an altogether different route: modeling. Peretti modeled in Barcelona, Spain, and on the advice of Wilhelmina Cooper — a former model who’d by then founded Wilhelmina Modeling Agency — moved to Manhattan in 1968. When she relocated, Peretti was inspired to pick up jewelry design.
After modeling for designer Halston, the undisputed fashion king of Studio 54, Peretti became his close friend and collaborator, eventually creating jewelry and teardrop-shaped perfume bottles for him. By way of her association with Halston, Peretti took to the disco scene, flourishing in a social circle that included artist Andy Warhol and fashion designer Giorgio di Sant’Angelo.
It wasn’t long before models on di Sant’Angelo’s runway were donning two-inch sterling-silver vases, complete with a rose stem, suspended on leather thongs around their necks. The accessory was Peretti’s inaugural piece of jewelry — she designed it in 1969 after finding a flower vase at a flea market. It was hardly the only time that Peretti found motifs in nature and in organic forms. In the years that followed, her Bean pendant necklace, Starfish earrings and other sensuous accessories would draw on human emotion as well as the natural world around her. Each evocative and wholly versatile design is universally adored decades later, and each was made for a storied American jewelry house with which Peretti would be associated for nearly 50 years.
It was Halston who introduced Peretti to Tiffany & Co. She had her own boutique at Bloomingdale’s by 1972, and her partnership with the firm, which signed the venturesome and unorthodox designer to an exclusive contract in 1974, would cement her place in the lofty annals of jewelry legend. Peretti’s simple but sophisticated designs — the Teardrop collection, her minimalist Diamonds by the Yard necklace and Open Heart ring, to name a few — elevated sterling silver, previously considered unsuitable for fine jewelry, and created an enthusiastic young audience for Tiffany’s offerings. In 1977, Peretti’s designs earned the jewelry house more than $6 million. (In some years, her work has accounted for 10 percent of the company’s sales.)
In 2012, Peretti signed a 20-year, $47.3 million contract with Tiffany & Co., but she passed away in 2021, at age 80. Today, her designs are in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the British Museum.
Find an exquisite collection of Elsa Peretti jewelry today on 1stDibs.
Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co.
In an era of social upheaval, venerable Tiffany & Co. designer Elsa Peretti reimagined diamonds as jewelry that working women bought for themselves rather than receiving it from a suitor.
By the time the Italian-born Peretti (1940–2021) arrived in New York City, she’d already studied design in Rome, worked for a Milanese architect and taught Italian, French and skiing in Switzerland. She settled on interior design as her potential career path but then chose an altogether different route: modeling. Peretti modeled in Barcelona, Spain, and on the advice of Wilhelmina Cooper — a former model who’d by then founded Wilhelmina Modeling Agency — moved to Manhattan in 1968. When she relocated, Peretti was inspired to pick up jewelry design.
After modeling for designer Halston, the undisputed fashion king of Studio 54, Peretti became his close friend and collaborator, eventually creating jewelry and teardrop-shaped perfume bottles for him. By way of her association with Halston, Peretti took to the disco scene, flourishing in a social circle that included artist Andy Warhol and fashion designer Giorgio di Sant’Angelo.
It wasn’t long before models on di Sant’Angelo’s runway were donning two-inch sterling-silver vases, complete with a rose stem, suspended on leather thongs around their necks. The accessory was Peretti’s inaugural piece of jewelry — she designed it in 1969 after finding a flower vase at a flea market. It was hardly the only time that Peretti found motifs in nature and in organic forms. In the years that followed, her Bean pendant necklace, Starfish earrings and other sensuous accessories would draw on human emotion as well as the natural world around her. Each evocative and wholly versatile design is universally adored decades later, and each was made for a storied American jewelry house with which Peretti would be associated for nearly 50 years.
It was Halston who introduced Peretti to Tiffany & Co. She had her own boutique at Bloomingdale’s by 1972, and her partnership with the firm, which signed the venturesome and unorthodox designer to an exclusive contract in 1974, would cement her place in the lofty annals of jewelry legend. Peretti’s simple but sophisticated designs — the Teardrop collection, her minimalist Diamonds by the Yard necklace and Open Heart ring, to name a few — elevated sterling silver, previously considered unsuitable for fine jewelry, and created an enthusiastic young audience for Tiffany’s offerings. In 1977, Peretti’s designs earned the jewelry house more than $6 million. (In some years, her work has accounted for 10 percent of the company’s sales.)
In 2012, Peretti signed a 20-year, $47.3 million contract with Tiffany & Co., but she passed away in 2021, at age 80. Today, her designs are in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the British Museum.
Find an exquisite collection of Elsa Peretti jewelry today on 1stDibs.
- Marguerite Fresse Paris jewel frame white beaded evening bagBy Marguerite FresseLocated in West Palm Beach, FLMarguerite Fresse Paris jewel frame white beaded evening bag...Classic 1950s evening bag, the frame is silver metal with a clasp that features...Category
20th Century French Evening Bags and Minaudières
- Giorgio Armani Black Suede & Satin Swarovski Crystal Evening Bag Black FrameBy Giorgio ArmaniLocated in West Palm Beach, FLGiorgio Armani black suede with black satin evening back set with Swarovski crystals, the bag has a black acrylic frame and snap closure. The bag has a gold chain that can be used or...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
- Lana of London Dark Chocolate Brown Alligator Clutch Shoulder BagBy LANA of LondonLocated in West Palm Beach, FLLana of London dark chocolate brown alligator small clutch with a rhinestone & gold metal hardware clasp front. There is a removable shoulder strap. Glazed bag has a shaped flap fron...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
- Swarovski Crystal Encrusted Mamma Cat & Kitten Evening Handbag Shoulder bagBy Finesse La ModelLocated in West Palm Beach, FLSwarovski crystal rhinestone encrusted mamma cat & kitten evening handbag, shoulder bag. Beautiful jeweled evening bag covered in crystal, gold and...Category
1990s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
- Judith Leiber Crystal Encrusted Monogram evening clutchBy Judith LeiberLocated in West Palm Beach, FLJudith Leiber crystal encrusted monogram evening clutch or shoulder bag. This beautiful bag in monogrammed LMJ, in crystal rhinestones set against black rhinestones. The bag frame is...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Evening Bags and Minaudières
- Lloyd Klein Paris Shagreen & Rosewood Evening BagLocated in West Palm Beach, FLLloyd Klein, Paris shagreen and rosewood evening bag with a carved stone beaded handle. Natural colour shagreen in greyish green, the beaded handle is blac...Category
20th Century French Evening Bags and Minaudières
- Chanel Orylag Triple Chain Flap BagBy ChanelLocated in London, GBA stylish and Chic Chanel Orylag flap bag from the Fall/Winter 2015 Act 1 Collection. The exterior of this bag features a navy orylag fur with antiqued s...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Evening Bags and Minaudières
- Chanel 2.55 Reissue Maxi Double Flap BagBy ChanelLocated in London, GBA Chic Chanel 2.55 Reissue Maxi Double Flap Handbag. The exterior of this reissue 2.55 is crafted in metallic champagne lambskin leather with signature diamond stitching and dark sil...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Evening Bags and Minaudières
- Chanel Purple Satin 2.55 Reissue Small 255 BagBy ChanelLocated in London, GBA lovely Chanel 2.55 Reissue small 255 double flap handbag. The exterior of this reissue 2.55 is crafted with purple satin crocodile embroidered stitchin...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Evening Bags and Minaudières
- CHANEL black satin bagBy ChanelLocated in Rubiera, RECHANEL evening bag Black diamond quilted satin bag, black jas beaded embroidery, finished in black leather, shoulder strap Golden chain with black leather, triangular flap with magne...Category
1990s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
$2,416 - Edouard Rambaud Handbag with Interchangeable Gold Sun Brooch Pins 1980sBy Edouard RambaudLocated in AMSTERDAM, NLEdouard Rambaud top handle patent leather handbag with interchangeable gold and blue sun brooch pins. The bag comes with a gold sun pin and a silver sun pin, and are interchangeable depending on how you want to match with your outfit. The sun charm is really one of Edouard Rambauds signatures, it’s even part of his logo as visible on the inside of the bag as well. BRAND DESCRIPTION Edouard Rambaud is well known for his 1980s costume jewelry...Category
1980s French Top Handle Bags
- Anya Hindmarch Bluebell Guilloche & Stingray Duke Clock ClutchBy Anya HindmarchLocated in Glasgow, GBRare Anya Hindmarch Duke Clock clutch from the eponymous brand. Cigarette-box style evening bag made primarily from stingray with sloped, bevelled edges. Structured, rectangular shap...Category
2010s Evening Bags and Minaudières