Judith Leiber Silver, Red, Swarovski Crystal Ball Minaudiere, Evening Bag
View Similar Items
Judith Leiber Silver, Red, Swarovski Crystal Ball Minaudiere, Evening Bag
About the Item
- Creator:Judith Leiber (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 3.5 in (8.89 cm)Diameter: 3.5 in (8.89 cm)
- Style:Modern (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:1980-1989
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1980
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Mild wear due to age and use. Very good over all condition, no stains or scents, Clean corners, edges, and interior. ONE missing crystal, ONE discolored crystal (pictured).
- Seller Location:Vero Beach, FL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU3915316296641
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.
- 17th Century English Jacobean Carved Oak Bible Box.Located in Vero Beach, FL17th Century English Jacobean Carved Oak Bible Box. Period Jacobean solid dark oak bible box from the 17th century. The front is beautifully carved wi...Category
Antique 17th Century English Jacobean Religious Items
MaterialsWrought Iron
- Antique Large Chinese Metal and Cinnabar Humidor Art Deco Box, circa 1920Located in Vero Beach, FLThis rare Chinese Art Deco box is made from copper alloy. The top is decorated with hand carved black cinnabar and highlighted with a finely carved bone figure...Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Art Deco Cigar Boxes and Humidors
MaterialsCopper
$618 Sale Price34% Off - 19th Century French Polychrome Enamel and Bronze Jewelry Box CasketLocated in Vero Beach, FLThis is an exceptional, fine and impressive antique French enamel polychrome painted casket. Each panel of the box is painted in the 18th century manner with charming landscape motiv...Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Jewelry Boxes
MaterialsBronze
$1,480 Sale Price20% Off - Pair of Islamic Enameled Vessels, Ancient UrnsLocated in Vero Beach, FLThis is an exceptional and historic pair of Damascus enameled metalwork vessels or urns. These art objects show signs of rough use and handling through the centuries. Although it is ...Category
Antique 16th Century West Asian Islamic Urns
MaterialsEnamel
- 12th Century Rare Romanesque Wood Sculpture of the Virgin MaryLocated in Vero Beach, FL12th century extremely rare romanesque wood sculpture of the Virgin Mary. Magnificent wood hand carved sculpture of the Virgin Mary holding a book to her chest. It is an extremely rare survivor of the 12th century. The style is European, possibly French or English. This statue is a testimony to beautiful religious art from about 1150. A truly rare Romanesque sculpture...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier English Medieval Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsStone
- Mid-Century Modern Large Ceramic Relief Tile Plaque by Helmut SchaffenackerBy Helmut Friedrich SchäffenackerLocated in Vero Beach, FLMid-Century Modern large relief tile handmade fat lava Helmut Schaffenacker ceramic wall plaque sail boats colorful abstract West German art. Wonderful and colorful midcentury matte...Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Ceramics
MaterialsCeramic
- Judith Leiber Swarovski Crystal Floral Minaudiere / ClutchBy Judith LeiberLocated in Guaynabo, PRThis is a Judith Leiber Swarovski crystals minaudiere / clutch. It depicts a gold tone metal heart shaped minaudiere adorned with a large peony flower with green leaves in the front ...Category
20th Century American Modern Decorative Boxes
MaterialsCrystal, Metal
- Judith Leiber Millennium Minaudiere, Clutch and/or PurseBy Judith LeiberLocated in Guaynabo, PRThis is a Judith Leiber minaudiere, clutch and/or purse. It depicts a small rectangular metal box wrapped with an ocean blue palette, green, yellow, brown and beige color paper illus...Category
20th Century American Modern Decorative Boxes
MaterialsCrystal, Metal
- Judith Leiber Hardshell Purse/HandbagBy Judith LeiberLocated in West Palm Beach, FLGreat form, signed inside.Category
Vintage 1960s American Decorative Boxes
MaterialsBrass
- Boucheron Silver and Vermeil MinaudièreBy BoucheronLocated in London, GBBoucheron silver and vermeil minaudière French, circa 1960 Measures: Minaudière: Height 2.5cm, width 13cm, depth 8.5cm Case: Height 4cm, width 18cm...Category
Vintage 1960s French Decorative Boxes
MaterialsSilver, Vermeil
- Italian Evening Silver Antique HandbagLocated in Alessandria, PiemonteG/409 - Antique, perfect, rare Italian evening handbag in silver mesh. What's better for a Christmas present ?Category
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Beaux Arts Jewelry Boxes
MaterialsSilver
- Carlo Fiori Metal and Rhinestone Hare Clutch Bag PurseBy Judith LeiberLocated in Miami, FLChic vintage metal and rhinestones bag. The chain retracts inside to be used a clutch. Retains tag. Chain is 36" long. Including chain the bag hangs 22".Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Decorative Boxes
MaterialsMetal