Art Nouveau Women's Mesh Coin Purse, Hanging Six Balls, Stamped S & Co
Art Nouveau Women's Sterling Silver Mesh Coin Purse, Hand Soldered, Bottom Hanging Six Balls, Stamped S & Co, Steinhart & Co - Seigfried Emil Steinhart, 14 Newhall Street, Birmingham, and 86 Oxford Street, London Birmingham 1905 Hallmark.
The earliest mesh bags were handmade in the 1700s and it could take weeks to complete just one purse. The process was lengthy because each piece had to be hammered into a round shape. Then it was cut individually with the ends overlapping and hammered again. Next came the riveting or soldering process, fastening all the pieces together.
The popularity of the mesh bag did not start growing until the 19th century. The handbag manufacturers subcontracted for the mesh to be made by workers in their homes and they would be paid upon completion. The most popular material to make these bags was German silver, gunmetal, or sterling.
The most famous maker of mesh bags is the Whiting and Davis Company. This company perfected the art of advertising and began as a jewelry maker. A young and ambitious office worker by the name of Charles Whiting was hired by Mr. Davis at the rate of 9 cents per hour, and he quickly rose to become a Sales Manager and then a partner.
Item Code - JEW1C658DA
Width: 2 3/4" Height: 3" Depth: 1/4" Weight: 45 g
