The Kew Historical Society's Fashion & Design collection includes a small and representative collection of reticules, purses and handbags, purchased, inherited or collected by members of the Society. These items date from the Nineteenth and Twentieth centuries, and conform to fashions and styles popular during the period of their use. Some of the items are handmade, while others are mass-produced commercial products. Beaded purse with butterscotch bakelite frame and chain.The purse contains an internal mirrorcostume accessories, purses, handbags, reticules

The Kew Historical Society's Fashion & Design collection includes a small and representative collection of reticules, purses and handbags, purchased, inherited or collected by members of the Society. These items date from the Nineteenth and Twentieth centuries, and conform to fashions and styles popular during the period of their use. Some of the items are handmade, while others are mass-produced commercial products. The handbag was donated to the collection by Dione McIntyre.The McIntyre Collection of clothing and clothing accessories forms one of the largest single donations to our Fashion & Design collection. It includes clothing and clothing accessories worn by four women in the Cohen and McIntyre families across three generations. The items worn by Melbourne architect, and Kew resident, Dione McIntyre date from the 1960s and 1970s, and include evening wear, day wear, hats and shoes. As Dione McIntyre often accompanied her husband, fellow architect Peter McIntyre, to formal events, there are a number of pieces of evening wear among the items. The McIntyre Collection also includes items worn by women of an earlier generation: by Lilian Cohen, Dione McIntyre's mother, and by her mother-in-law, the wife of the architect Robert McIntyre. At the other end of the chronological spectrum are a number of outfits belonging to, worn and donated by Annie McIntyre. These include outfits created by notable late 20th century Australian and/or international fashion designers. The McIntyre Collection is significant historically and artistically as it includes examples of design that demonstrate changing tastes in fashion over an 80-year period. The collection is also significant in that it includes the work of a large number of Melbourne designers from the 1960s to the 1990s. Square silver chain pursehandbags, evening bags, bags, fashion accessories, silver mesh bags, mcintyre collection

The Kew Historical Society's Fashion & Design collection includes a small and representative collection of reticules, purses and handbags, purchased, inherited or collected by members of the Society. These items date from the Nineteenth and Twentieth centuries, and conform to fashions and styles popular during the period of their use. Some of the items are handmade, while others are mass-produced commercial products.Black evening bag with fabric covered metal frame. Flat black strap. Same colour cornelli embroidered exterior decoration.handbags, evening bags, fashion accessories, grace james collection

Created out of beaver fur, this handbag would have been quite rare and valuable. Not due to the design, this muff design was created repeatedly throughout the 1880s (typically, for the most fashionable, with matching dress cuffs and hat). However, this design was usually created with "beaver cloth", a wool made to resemble beaver fur, or, particularly in Australia, seal fur. Pure beaver fur was rare and quite prestigious, gaining such popularity in the 1700s that 80% of England's fur exports were beaver. But, on the flip side, becoming so popular they were overhunted to the point that, by the 1840s, the beaver fur trade was at a complete stand still.Brown beaver fur handbag and muff with satin lining and one internal pocket. Thick beaver fur rope handle attached with two circular d-rings. Metal frame and lockable clasp.beaver, fur, beaver fur, muffs, handbag, 1880s, 1800s, fur trade

Ladies red vinyl handbag with gold chain decoration ladies, handbag, red, vinyl

Owned by Mary Hardcastle 1920 -1920?Round brown hat boxA.G. Perl Handbag Travel Goods 166 Bourke St, Melbourne

The bag belonged to Dorothy's mother who resided in Canterbury Road, Vermont, Unit 1, next to Steven Reserve for 20 years until she died. Information from Dorothy Meagher re bead bag:-Dorothy Mavis Don (owner of bag) was born in Cowangie, S.A. in Mallee country in 1907. She married Douglas William Stewart on 22-1-1927 in the Presbyterian Church in Cowangie. Dorothy (known as Mavis) was an accomplished designer and sewer who made clothes etc. up to her death.Multicoloured wooden beaded handbag with handles and zipper. Fan shape.costume accessories, female

This scent bottle would have been attached to a belt or handbag and would have belonged to a woman of some means. It would have been in use when the owner was outside or travelling and used to combat the unsavoury smells of a farm or industrial area. This item is of interest as an object used by women more than a hundred years ago. It has no known local provenance and will be useful for display This is an egg-shaped perfume bottle made of opaque glass (opaline?). It has an inner lining and cotton wool inside the lid of the top. The top is brass with a brass hinge. Attached to the lid is a brass chain and circular ring to attach the bottle to a chatelaine belt or handbag. The chain was once attached to the bottle in two places but one section has been broken.social history, warrnambool history, scent bottles, milk glass scent bottles, antique scent bottles

The Kew Historical Society's Fashion & Design collection includes a small and representative collection of reticules, purses and handbags, purchased, inherited or collected by members of the Society. These items date from the Nineteenth and Twentieth centuries, and conform to fashions and styles popular during the period of their use. Some of the items are handmade, while others are mass-produced commercial products.Beaded purse with metal frame and beaded chain.handbags, bags, fashion accessories, women's clothing, purses, evening bags

Huttlet - MartinB/W: Seated mature Woman in widow's weeds, handbag, lace headress.Patent Chromotype, Permanent Photograph. Heath & Bullingham 24 George Street Plymouth. Reverse: 76887 Elizabeth Martin Born Dec 1818. Died June 29th 1910 Jan's great great Wife of Richardhuttley, martin

Used by Giselda Bannister as a child.Small white crochet child's handbag edged with pink and with pink flowers embroidered with pink lining.crochet, handbag, child's accessories, giselda bannister

Trickey Collection, Ladies Gold Glove Grip Ornate Design with small Chain. Usually attached to a handbag stawell

Mary Florence Tre Russell nee Wettenhall This written record of her life is a tribute to a woman who was kind and caring and extremely capable in the various challenges that life threw her. History of the Wettenhall FamilyGrey card cover with a B/W photo of a woamn wearing a hat carrying a parcel and handbag with glovesThe Story of my Motherstawell

This bag is a classic example of a 1950s evening bag that is both practical with its kiss clasp closure and chain handle but stylish with its bold gold colour that was popular at this time.Gold metallic handbag circa 1950s. Gold frame with kiss clasp. Light gold chain- brokenhandbag, 1950s, gold, evening bag

Textiles. Brown velvet handbag with ornate decorative silver metal frame with slide clasp. Silver metalchain carrying handle with three metal rings attaching tow pieces of chain. Lined with brown leather. Name written in pen inside handbag , possibly C.Martin, difficult to read.textiles, domestic, ladies brown velvet handbag

Small fabric black handbag with small pleats as decoration. Fine chain handle and two pearl with gold trim clasp.costume accessories, female

Gift to Mrs. H. N. LordSmall Japanese cloisonne handbag mirror with blue background and small coloured flowers and gold frame. On gold metal stand.hand mirrors

Small black and white image of a man and a woman. The man is holding a dark coloured handbag and a camera in his left hand.joyce chung, harold cornish

This bag is a practical daily style from the 1910s, leather was a popular material due to its durability and longevity. The front pleating adds a small amount of decoration to an otherwise utilitarian bag.Brown leather handbag with a pleated front,leather strap and metal push close,1 internal pocket. - circa 1913Small tag reading 'warranted genuine' 'Morocco' 'made in USA'bag, leather, pleating, 1913

​In March 2014 Tracey Mallett, Manager Organisation Planning at the City of Whittlesea, represented the City of Whittlesea on a visit to the Buka Urban Council in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, on behalf of the International Women’s Development Agency. During her trip, Tracey acquired two hand made bags and Shell necklace which she donated to the City of Whittlesea Civic History Collection.handbags, handmade

Used by Mrs. H. N. Lord in the 1960's.Beaded evening bag with silver and pastel flower pattern.beads, handbags

Purchased in Los Angeles during 1960s 'Hippy' eraBrown leather handbag with leather fringe at base and middle. Draw string tie in same leather. Shoulder strap attached with metal rings.costume accessories, female

Used by Valda ArrowsmithSmall brown leather handbag. Short handle with round buckle on front. Square in shape with stitching around all edges. Lined in light fawn chamois.MC made in Italycostume accessories, female

Ladies handbag, suede, taupe colour, gold metal hinge and round gold metal lock. strap handle made of taupe leather, Suede lining Inside bag: Reptilehandbag, ladies,

In the 17th century young girls were taught embroidery as a necessary skill for marriage, this also helped them make very beautiful handbags. By the late 18th century, fashions in Europe were moving towards a slender shape and women wanted purses that would not be bulky or untidy in appearance, so reticules were designed. Reticules were made of fine fabrics like silk and velvet, with wrist strapA lady's beige, beaded, silk lined, evening bag with press stud fastenerevening wear, purses, personal effects, handbags, fashion, needlework, craftwork, dressmaking, moorabbin, brighton, early settlers, pioneers, cheltenham