Gorgeous Judith Leiber Alligator, Crystal and Garnet Frame
View Similar Items
Gorgeous Judith Leiber Alligator, Crystal and Garnet Frame
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Teaneck, NJ
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU271360922
Judith Leiber
When it comes to handbags, no designer can compete with Judith Leiber’s (1921–2018) ability to create magic using opulent crystals and wildly imaginative and playful shapes. The Hungarian-born designer made minaudières (small, decorative handbags, often without handles or a strap) in the form of crystal-covered swans, cupcakes, lipstick, wads of cash, teddy bears and other delightful objects. These dazzling objets d’art have been regularly seen in the hands of First Ladies, movie stars on the red carpet and even in the prestigious collections of institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Like many pathbreaking inventions in the history of design, Leiber’s minaudières were the result of a happy accident. In 1967, she began working on her first metal handbag. The piece in question was named the Chatelaine, and the design was a graceful drop-shaped purse in gold-tinted metal. But when the samples came in, Leiber saw that the bottom of the bag looked greenish and discolored as a result of the plating process. She had the ingenious idea of applying crystal rhinestones to the base to cover up the flaws. The dazzling bag was a huge success and would become her trademark.
Born Judith Peto in Budapest, Leiber overcame many hardships before her breakthrough. At the start of World War II, she was working at the Pessl handbag company in Budapest where she quickly climbed the ranks to become a master craftswoman. When the war escalated, she and her Jewish family were forced by the Nazis to live in a cellar of a ghetto, and several of her relatives were killed in concentration camps. “I designed handbags in my head to get through the misery,” she said. After the liberation of Budapest, she married Gerson “Gus” Leiber, an American GI, and moved to New York. In 1948, she began working for the fashion house Nettie Rosenstein. One of her first major pieces was the handbag embroidered with glittering rhinestones and pearls carried by Mamie Eisenhower at the 1953 inaugural ball. In 1963, she finally set up her own company.
Leiber’s whimsical designs embellished with Swarovski crystals and semiprecious stones defied traditional notions of luxury handbags. She also created striking clutches and bags with leather and fine textiles from around the world. In her 65-year career, she designed over 3,500 bags, which have been worn by First Ladies including Nancy Reagan and Laura Bush, pop icons like Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez and celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner (who collects Leiber’s handbags). In 2005, the Leiber Collection Museum opened in East Hampton, New York, as a permanent space to showcase her work. The minaudières remain coveted objects celebrated worldwide for their eclectic beauty and glamorous charm.
The value of a good handbag cannot be overstated — find a collection of vintage Judith Leiber handbags and other fashion accessories today on 1stDibs.
- 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 2016 2.55 Reissue Flap Hanger Small Mini Reissue Limited Edition BagBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel Classic Flap Hanger Small 2.55 Reissue Bag Limited Edition 2016 Gold tone hardware Mademoiselle turn-lock closure Black calfskin Reissue classic chain Hanger detail with rear...Category
2010s Italian Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
- Gucci by Tom Ford brown carved wooden bag with braided leather strap, fw 2002By Gucci, Tom Ford for GucciLocated in London, GBGucci by Tom Ford brown carved wooden mini box bag with braided leather strap Fall-Winter 2002Category
Early 2000s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
- Louis Vuitton Bordeaux Electric Epi Leather Mirabeau PM BagBy Louis VuittonLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2Designer bags are ideal companions for ample occasions! Here we have a fashion-meets-functionality piece crafted with precision. It has been equipped with a well-sized interior that ...Category
2010s French Evening Bags and Minaudières
- Chanel Black Quilted Glitter Patent Leather Jumbo Classic Single Flap BagBy ChanelLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2A classic handbag comes with the promise of enduring appeal, boosting your style time and again. This Chanel black bag is one such creation. It’s a fine purchase.Category
Early 2000s French Evening Bags and Minaudières
- Alaia Black Leather Edition 1992 Corset BagBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2The Alaia Edition 1992 Corset bag is a timeless fashion piece. Crafted from premium black leather, it features a unique corset-inspired design with intricat...Category
2010s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières