Whiting & Davis Gold Mesh Bag
About the Item
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Height: 4.75 in (12.07 cm)Width: 5 in (12.7 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Alford, MA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU209226338
Whiting & Davis
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Alford, MA
- Return Policy
More From This Seller
View All1960s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
1960s Japanese Evening Bags and Minaudières
Late 20th Century American Evening Bags and Minaudières
1960s American Evening Bags and Minaudières
Mid-20th Century Unknown Evening Bags and Minaudières
1980s American Clutches
You May Also Like
Late 20th Century American Evening Bags and Minaudières
21st Century and Contemporary American Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
1970s American Evening Bags and Minaudières
Early 20th Century French Structured Shoulder Bags
Mid-20th Century American Evening Bags and Minaudières
Mid-20th Century American American Classical Collectible Jewelry
Acrylic
