March 18, 2010

HANDBAG...SERIOUSLY.

Here they are...my "hand"bag collection. I call it "a collection" even though I only have two. I always think of a collection as being something special, something prized, something that you own and are proud of. These bags fall into that category even if I only have a couple. Perhaps my collection will grow at some point. Why am I so fascinated with them? They are beautiful, creepy, delicate, old, and a bit disconcerting all at the same time. I wonder why it became popular at the turn of the century to carry your change in the hand of an alligator suspended by a rope? How morbid yet practical. Victorians were such weirdos - making jewelry out of hair and purses out of animal hands...how did this become normal? What do you think of these? Are you repulsed, fascinated, confused, or all of the above? I am "all of the above," and that is precisely what makes these bags so interesting. Handbags rarely effect me emotionally, but these are so reminiscent of being alive that it's hard not to be moved by them. Thoughts appreciated whether you love or hate them...

8 comments:

molly c said...

Somehow I had never heard of these!! They are in such amazinng shape too!! They are kinda in the same vein as this change purse made out of a dead mouse by this awesome macabre jeweler I can't remember the name of (if you google " mouse coin purse" I'm sure it'll pop right up).
Thanks for posting these !!

Raggedy Ann said...

All of the above. So cool, though! Where did you get hold of these? Feel like it could be something pulled out of "A picture of Dorian Gray". So decadent, yet disturbing. Thanks for sharing!

reid.damnit said...

looooooooovvvvvve them!!

Anonymous said...

a-maaaa-zing!!!! like portable taxidermy

mel said...

duuuuudddeee. you know I'm in love. Wow, im so excited these came out of you!

Liz said...

Just to clarify...I DID NOT MAKE THESE! They are very old, probably from the Victorian/Edwardian period, though they have been reworked at some point, as seen by the added snap. I look for them when I can - EBAY, estate sales, though they are hard to come by.

Anonymous said...

CRAZY HANDS!!

Unknown said...

yep. definitely "all of the above"