Whiting & Davis White Metal Mesh Purse, 1930s/40s

The lining is a beautiful shimmering dark gold fabric two pockets It comes with its original mirror still in pocket. PRE-OWNED. Signs of wear fo show through bag. The handle is made of strong white enameled mesh, of the flat, not beaded, variety. It is connected at opposites ends of each side of the frame which is an interesting security feature not commonly used today. The tiny mesh squares of the body of the purse are linked with a gold metal which gives the purse an overall ivory, rather than pure white, appearance. The beautiful graceful frame is a deep burnished gold-tone metal with a simple kiss clasp. Measurements are in the photos Charles Whiting and Edward Davis established Whiting & Davis in Plainview, MA in 1896, specializing in fine jewelry and their unique products made from finely woven metal mesh. Initially ring mesh was painstakingly hand-made and used for very costly fashion handbags, jewelry, protective gloves and a variety of other products. In 1912, the firm engaged the services of inventor A. C. Pratt who developed a machine to automatically manufacture metal ring mesh "fabric" and by 1920 Whiting & Davis became a leading international manufacturer of mesh products for the fashion industry. This bag features W & D's "beadlite" mesh, introduced in the late 1930s, which consists of thousands of tiny linked squares impressed with tinier raised half spheres. The Whiting & Davis Mesh Bags trademark is also impressed in the frame. (Ignore: bin 5-)