Salvatore Ferragamo Watermelon Pebbled Leather Shoulder Bag
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:West Palm Beach, FL
- Reference Number:
Salvatore Ferragamo
A perfectionist who as a child crafted a pair of white shoes for his sister’s first holy communion because his parents couldn’t afford new footwear, Salvatore Ferragamo was ambitious from his earliest days. The young Italian shoemaker established in the years that followed what would one day become a fashion empire — the highly profitable multinational family-owned and -operated luxury brand today counts more than 600 stores in 96 countries around the world, and vintage Salvatore Ferragamo shoes, belts, handbags and other clothing and accessories are objects of desire for fashion lovers everywhere.
Salvatore Ferragamo sought an education in the art of shoemaking when he was eleven — he apprenticed with a local shoemaker and spent a short time in nearby Naples learning what he could at a shoe factory. He opened his first shop with a handful of workers the following year, and in 1914 — when he was still a teenager — Ferragamo emigrated to America, just as his siblings had before him, seeking new opportunities for work and to learn in the footwear trade.
After securing a job at the Plant Shoe Factory in Boston, Massachusetts, Ferragamo was uninspired by machine-made footwear. He moved across the country to Santa Barbara, California. Owing to a connection he made with a then-actor cousin, Ferragamo found work with the American Film Manufacturing Company. He made women’s shoes and provided durable cowboy boots for a film crew’s costuming department. Ferragamo’s reputation in the world of Hollywood cinema soon broadened, and he established a storefront in Mission Canyon where he made shoes by hand for the likes of actresses Gloria Swanson, Greta Garbo and Dolores del Río.
By the 1920s, film directors commissioned Ferragamo to produce shoes for a range of movies — the list of films eventually included The Ten Commandments, The Covered Wagon and The Thief of Baghdad. When he felt comfortable enough with the English language, Ferragamo also enrolled in anatomy courses at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles in order to better understand motion and the demands that we place on our footwear.
By the late 1920s, Ferragamo sought to expand production of his shoes and returned to Italy. He hired scores of apprentices to work in a factory in Florence, where Ferragamo carefully melded the principles of handcraftsmanship with all that he learned about America’s shoe factories. He filed patents — hundreds over the years — on the steel shank arch and many other unique aspects of his shoe design, and when economic and political influences during the 1930s forced Ferragamo to substitute pressed cork for steel to support the arch, the wedge heel was born. Other creative materials he integrated into his forward-looking creations were hemp, felt, nylon fishing line, fish skin and cellophane twisted with silk.
In the late 1940s, the brand’s first storefront opened in Manhattan, and today Salvatore Ferragamo is known worldwide and is synonymous with a wealth of iconic footwear such as Viva ballet flats, Vara Bow pumps, Gancini loafers and lots more. Ferragamo’s son, Ferruccio, was appointed CEO in 1984. Under his leadership, Ferruccio diversified and expanded the fashion business further, getting into sunglasses, fragrance, watches and made-to-measure men’s shoes. Ferruccio was succeeded by his brother, Leonardo Ferragamo, and British designer Maximilian Davis is now creative director of the brand.
Find vintage Salvatore Ferragamo shoes, clothing and accessories on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: West Palm Beach, FL
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- Emanuel Ungaro Brown Swede Handbag w/ Jaguar DetailBy Emanuel UngaroLocated in West Palm Beach, FLEmanuel Ungaro Brown Swede Handbag w/ Jaguar Detail This beautiful exotic looking bag is in good condition. There are some wrinkles on the bag as well as some peeling on the fabric...Category
1990s Italian Shoulder Bags
- Bottega Veneta Dustry Rose Lambskin Small Shoulder Bag w/ Suede LiningBy Bottega VenetaLocated in West Palm Beach, FLBottega Veneta Dustry Rose Lambskin Small Shoulder Bag w/ Suede Lining. This lovely bag is in good condition with some wear consistent with its age and a zipper that is worn. It fe...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Shoulder Bags
- Gucci 1990's Silver Crocodile Rectangular Small Shoulder Handbag - SHWBy GucciLocated in West Palm Beach, FLGucci Silver Crocodile Rectangular Small Shoulder Handbag - SHW This beautiful and very unique crocodile Gucci handbag has a link silver chain, a met...Category
1990s Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
- Stuart Weitzman Black and Brown Stone Clutch and BagBy Stuart WeitzmanLocated in West Palm Beach, FLThis Stuart Weitzman bag is made of black satin with dark brown stones all along the front. The bag can be used as a clutch or shoulder bag and com...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Clutches
- Isabella Fiore Rose Gold Leather Bag with GrommetsBy Isabella FioreLocated in West Palm Beach, FLThis Isabella Fiore leather shoulder bag is a metallic rose gold with dark gold studs and grommets all over. The top of the bag has a wavy shape with th...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Shoulder Bags
- Jimmy Choo Tan and Silver Perforated Suede Shoulder BagBy Jimmy ChooLocated in West Palm Beach, FLThis Jimmy Choo shoulder bag has a bottom silver leather layer with a tan perforated suede layer on top. The bag has silver hardware and a leat...Category
21st Century and Contemporary English Shoulder Bags
- Chanel Medium Double Flap bag in shiny red alligator with gold hardwareBy ChanelLocated in New York, NYA SHINY RED ALLIGATOR MEDIUM CLASSIC DOUBLE FLAP WITH GOLD HARDWARE. Comes with dust bag, certificate of authenticity and the box. Bag is in great condition. No CITES. Series 20xxxx...Category
2010s French Shoulder Bags
- Chanel Classic Flap Vintage with Gold Hardware Red Caviar Leather Cross Body BagBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel Rare Vintage Red Caviar Classic Flap with Gold Hardware 1994 (VINTAGE 28 Years} Red caviar quilted leather Gold hardware Front flap pocket with CC turnlock closure Main zipper...Category
1990s Italian Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
- Chanel Large Chain Around Limited Edition Pristine Red Calfskin Leather Flap BagBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel Red Coral Large Chain Around Limited Edition Classic Flap Bag Condition: Pristine. Comes with dust bag, authenticity hologram, matching authenticity card, and Chanel mini p...Category
Early 2000s Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
- Bottega Veneta Brand New China Intercciato Wallet on Chain Crossbody BagBy Bottega VenetaLocated in Pasadena, CABottega Veneta Brand New China Intercciato Wallet on Chain Crossbody Bag *Marked Bottega Veneta and B06425097E * Made in Italy * Comes with original box, dustbag, tag and booklet * ...Category
2010s Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
- Judith Leiber Red Lizard Small Shoulder BagBy Judith LeiberLocated in Philadelphia, PAJudith Leiber Red Lizard Small Shoulder Bag in very good vintage condition. Red lizard leather trimmed with gold hardware and gold chain shoulder st...Category
1980s Structured Shoulder Bags
- Chanel Red Lambskin Stripe Diana Medium Vintage Classic Flap BagBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel red Lady Diana Medium Classic Bag 1993 {VINTAGE 29 Years} Vintage red lambskin leather with gold hardware and classic cc interlocking clasp ...Category
1990s French Structured Shoulder Bags