Whiting & Davis Silver Chainmail Clutch
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Adorable vintage Whiting & Davis silver chainmail clutch! Complete your going out look effortlessly with this timeless and versatile chainmail clutch.
Whiting & Davis Silver Chainmail Clutch
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Adorable vintage Whiting & Davis silver chainmail clutch! Complete your going out look effortlessly with this timeless and versatile chainmail clutch.
Whiting & Davis silver mesh clutch with matching change purse
By Whiting & Davis
Located in New York, NY
Whiting & Davis silver mesh evening clutch has detailed rhinestone clasp closure.
Whiting and Davis Gold Mesh Clutch
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Topanga, CA
Whiting and Davis gold domed mesh fold over frame clutch with peach colored grosgrain lining.
Whiting and Davis Enameled Gold Mesh Clutch
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Topanga, CA
Unused gold metal mesh with black glossy domed enameled coating. Black satin lining and exterior piping. Kept in pristine condition, this clutch is the perfect evening addition to a...
Whiting & Davis Silver Mesh clutch
By Whiting & Davis
Located in New York, NY
The Whiting & Davis Evening clutch has a starburst multiple Rhinestones clasp closing at front center.
Whiting & Davis Gold Chainmail Clutch
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Adorable vintage Whiting & Davis gold chainmail clutch! Complete your going out look effortlessly with this timeless and versatile chainmail clutch.
C.1950 Whiting & Davis Silver Mesh Clutch Evening Handbag
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Atlanta, GA
This glamorous silver mesh evening handbag by Whiting & Davis will take you from deco to disco!
Sold
H 5.25 in W 0.5 in L 8 in
Whiting & Davis Gold-Tone Chainmail Metal Clutch Bag With Chain circa 1960s
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
This stunning Gold-Tone Chainmail Metal Clutch Bag With Chain circa 1960s is a captivating accessory that embodies the glamour and sophistication of the mid-20th century. Crafted fro...
Whiting & Davis Gold Mesh Clutch
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Brooklyn, NY
vintage Whiting & Davis mesh clutch beautiful gold mesh metal pretty art deco style rhinestone clasp small interior pockets peach silk lining comes in it's original box excellent con...
1960s Whiting & Davis Clutch and Coin Purse
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Port Hope, ON
A duo of Whiting & Davis gold mesh coin purse and crystal rhinestone clasp clutch.
Whiting & Davis 1970s Metal Mesh Leopard Print Clutch
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Attract all the attention with this Whiting & Davis clutch! Circa 1990s, this clutch features gold toned hardware and Whiting & Davis's signature metal mesh material in a red, orange...
Gold Mesh Whiting & Davis Evening Clutch
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Paris, FR
Gold mesh Whiting & Davis evening clutch featuring a gold and strass top clasp closure, an inside peach color silk lining and gold chain handle.
1960s Vintage Whiting and Davis Gold Metal Mesh Handbag or Clutch
By Whiting & Davis
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful shiny vintage Whiting and Davis gold metal mesh purse. Features an intricate clasp, with an attached chain (may be tucked in to use as a clutch).
Sold
H 4 in W 10 in D 12 in
1950s Whiting and Davis Gold Mesh Jewel Closure Evening Clutch with Coin Purse
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From the mid-late 1950s, a gold mesh evening clutch made by Whiting and Davis, the company who invented superior quality metallic mesh design and fashion, from the late 1890s into th...
Crystal, Metal
Whiting & Davis Mesh Clutch
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Metal mesh Whiting & Davis evening purse with rhinestone clasp. Scalloped frame. Chain link handle. Lined.
Measurements
Height: 4 1/2"
Width: 1 1/4"1940s American Whiting and Davis Vintage Clutch
Whiting & Davis 60s mesh flip clutch.
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Atlanta, GA
Whiting & Davis 60s black / bronze mesh flip clutch.
Whiting and Davis Silver metal mesh and Rhinestone Clutch
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Topanga, CA
Whiting and Davis The most renowned metal mesh designer in accessories. Their designs were innovative and a luxurious addition to the glamorous 20’s era. Their later designs incorpo...
Whiting and Davis Tricolor Clutch
By Whiting & Davis
Located in Litchfield County, CT
Vintage mesh signed Whiting and Davis convertible handbag clutch featuring three colors; light golden bronze, silver, and black.
Whiting & Davis Metal Mesh and Crystal Rhinestone Clutch Handbag
By Whiting & Davis
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Art Deco Whiting & Davis silver mesh metal clutch style handbag.
Whiting & Davis Metal Mesh & Swarovski Crystal Clutch Evening Bag
By Whiting & Davis
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Vintage Art Deco style Whiting & Davis gold metal mesh clutch evening bag.
Whiting & Davis Metal Mesh Enamel Two Tone Clutch Style Hand Bag, 1984
By Whiting & Davis
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Art Deco Style Whiting & Davis White Enamel Metal Mesh with Metallic Gunmetal Graphic Design.zipper style clutch hand bag.
John Galliano for Christian Dior Pink Silk Flower Dress
By John Galliano, Christian Dior
Located in Water Mill, NY
A beautiful blush pink silk dress with green and bright pink flowers by John Galliano for Christian Dior. It has ruched straps forming a front V, the skirt falls in gentle folds to ...
Vicky Tiel 1980s Silk Strapless High Low Bustier Dress
By Vicky Tiel
Located in Water Mill, NY
A great pink silk high low dress from Vicky Tiel. It has a drop waist horizontally ruched boned bustier bodice onto which is gathered a full skirt knee length in the front, ankle len...
Dolce & Gabbana Lace up Silk Dress
By Dolce & Gabbana
Located in Water Mill, NY
A beautiful silk dress in a pink and green geometric print from Dolce & Gabbana. The bodice is vertically boned, fitted through to the hips and has an attached matching pink adjusta...
Ralph Lauren Spectacular Solid Crystal Disco Shoulder Bag w Chain Handle
By Ralph Lauren
Located in Gresham, OR
Ralph Lauren Spectacular Solid Crystal Disco Shoulder Bag w Chain Handle: Front flap closure on this stunner! New, never worn. Original price marked $2500. Heavy silver chain handle...
Gucci Tom Ford Era 2004 Limited Edition AD Era Bag Bamboo Chain Metallic
By Tom Ford for Gucci, Gucci
Located in Melbourne, VIC
prémode presents Gucci Tom Ford Era 2004 Bag. This limited edition bag was designed by Tom Ford for his final collection as the Creative Director for Gucci. Featuring absolutely gorg...
$438Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage 1990s Moschino by Redwall Striped PVC Sheepskin Bowling Bag
By Redwall, Moschino
Located in LAGNY-SUR-MARNE, FR
Beautiful and rare Vintage 1990s Moschino by redwall bowling bag. This piece was previously owned and gently worn you can see little signs of use or show signs of fading barely notic...
Vicky Tiel Ruched Strapless Dress
By Vicky Tiel
Located in Water Mill, NY
A fabulous stretch silk net dress from Vicky Tiel Couture in a beautiful shade of green. It has a boned strapless corset style bodice wrapped flatteringly with ruching crisscrossing ...
$451
H 5.5 in W 1.5 in L 9 in
Vintage 1950's French Floral Beaded Clutch Bag 1950's Beaded floral handbag
Located in Nashville, TN
A true beauty to behold, this original 1950's micro beaded clutch bag, rendered in the smallest iridescent white rocaille beads, accented by a raised scalloped pattern throughout, in...
GUCCI by Tom Ford Velvet GG Logo Exotic Lizard Skin Horsebit XXL Clutch Bag Y2K
By Tom Ford for Gucci, Gucci
Located in Switzerland, CH
A Gucci by Tom Ford Evening Bag, from the early-mid 2000s Y Limited Edition only sold in selected Gucci flagship stores Beautiful eggplant velvet with the famous GG logo monogram Ex...
Yves Saint Laurent Smocked Floral-Print Silk-Chiffon Maxi Dress, SS1977
By Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, Yves Saint Laurent
Located in Geneva, CH
Cut from airy sheer silk chiffon, this rare 1977 Spring-Summer Saint Laurent Rive Gauche maxi dress is shirred from under the chest to the hips for a flattering - though comfortable ...
$1,267Sale Price|35% Off
Size: 38.5
New Vintage Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent YSL Collectible Heels Sz 38.5
By Yves Saint Laurent, Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent
Located in Conroe, TX
Yves Saint Laurent Heels Brand New Size: 38.5 * Tom Ford Era Final Collection Heels This Collection was Featured at the Metropolitan Museum of Art * Metallic Covered Heel * Double...
$1,995Sale Price|48% Off
New Fendi Bronze Metallic Chef Baguette Fully Lined in Shearling Bag
By Fendi
Located in Conroe, TX
Fendi Shearling Chef Baguette Brand New * Shearling Wool Lined & Shearling Accents * Foil Leather (Finished with a Film of Metal) * Fendi Gold Hardware * Detachable Fendi Dangle Char...
Alaia by Azzedine Alaia Spring Summer 1992 "Mon Coeur Est A Papa" dress
By Azzedine Alaïa
Located in Antwerpen, Vlaams Gewest
Dating to the Spring/Summer 1992 collection, this Azzedine Alaïa mini dress is an iconic and increasingly rare collector’s piece. Crafted from Alaïa’s signature stretch knit, it feat...
1990s Burberry Nova Check Coated Canvas Mini Bag
By Burberry
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Mid to late 1990s Burberry coated canvas mini shoulder bag in the classic Nova check. Trimmed in dark brown leather, the bag has a circular snap button closure and one interior zippe...
NWT's FENDI Vintage Brown Floral Rosette Silk Halter Dress
By Fendi
Located in Leonardo, NJ
Fendi Vintage 100% silk Leans more toward neutral warm toned brown Pink floral rosettes with micro sequins and beads Very lightweight Flattering knotted front, ruching, and halter ne...
Chanel 97P Vintage Lucite Crystal Beaded Evening Bag 24k GHW 68453
By Chanel
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Store item: 68453 This Chanel 97P Vintage Lucite Crystal Beaded Evening Bag 24k GHW is a rare find. Made solely of faceted lucite beads in white, green and turquoise pastel hues join...
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.
An integral part of fashion, handbags and purses have been indispensable accessories ever since we began to carry around personal items. Level of craftsmanship, style and shape matters — from coin purses in ancient Greece to early 20th-century opera bags and onward, handbags have evolved considerably over the years to meet our needs and desires, whether or not you happen to be prioritizing functionality over a flashy exterior.
Once, a single “It” handbag ruled each fashion season. No more. Today, lovers of vintage handbags are savvier and have a wider range of shopping options. Nevertheless, classics created by the likes of Louis Vuitton, Dior and Balenciaga still rule.
“It is not a fashion bag — it is a statement bag,” says Mightychic's Debra Kent of Hermès's widely beloved accessories. “When you carry an iconic Hermès bag — Birkin, Kelly, Constance — no one knows how long you have been into this culture or if you are a newbie. Your status is validated immediately.”
First released in 1997, Fendi's Baguette rose to fame along with Carrie Bradshaw, the Sex and the City character portrayed by Sarah Jessica Parker. Recently, the design has seen such a resurgence in popularity that Fendi has reissued it.
They are part of design history, so owning a handbag has meaning. As New York–based fashion historian Sarah C. Byrd says, “You have made the choice to invest in this piece because you understand the value of it in the past and in the future to come.”
From a 1980s Chanel black leather quilted mini buckle bag to the rare Hermès Birkin 30cm Himalayan with diamond hardware to a range of 19th-century bags, find a rich variety of vintage and designer handbags and purses spanning numerous brands on 1stDibs — seasonal “It” designation no longer needed.