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Page 14 The Antique Shoppe February, 2019
A PLASTIC FANTASTIC PURSE LOVE
By Dorothea Killian
The shop owner of was handed down to you from
Etsy’s RememberMaMa, Mom. There are methods to
Debbie Porzio, known as preserve it in good condition.
Tricia, has handled 1,500 Always keep it away from
mid-twentieth-century extreme heat and cold.
Lucite purses during four Don’t clean it with any glass
decades of collecting, cleaning chemicals. Readers
educating, and selling. are encouraged to learn more
First attracted by the artful about repairing scratches
designs and beauty, Tricia and dullness on your purse
enjoys the history as well. or polishing the surface back
Created in 1931 by to a shiny appearance. There
the chemical company are products to assist you
DuPont, Lucite became in remedying some purse
a replacement for earlier maladies.
plastics like Bakelite It seems there is a purse
and Catalin. The acrylic A Llewellyn Lewsid Jewel BROWN tor- style for everybody. Varieties This Rialto style New York pearlized WHITE rare
material made from toise concentric-rings Beehive shape of design motifs sometimes shape purse has clear cutout designs each side,
polymethyl methacrylate has those famous brass bees buzzing include people, snowflakes and a carved handle.
or PMMA became well around flowers in the etched lid. and stars, or dogs such as
known for to its durability poodles or scotties. Some history and story of Lucite plastic purses in
America. Readers are encouraged to view
and low density. Although
mostly used for military applications, Lucite purse photos and ask questions of Tricia on her
was quickly adapted for use in fashion Etsy website, RememberMaMa.
accessories and jewelry. She likes to deal mostly with collectors
From the late 1940s into early 1960s the and wearers of the purses, but everyone is
Lucite plastic purse fashion fad was popular welcome. Tricia gets to know the needs and
in every region of the USA. It was such a wants of her website visitors. Some ask her to
phenomenon that hundreds of thousands be on the lookout for a certain shape, color,
were created in a myriad of designs by style, or maker’s name. Some just want to look
manufacturers, Arnold Originals, Bags by and learn. Readers may want to type into their
Benne, Bley, Charles Foster, Charles S. search engines “Vintage Lucite Plastic Purses”
for a foundation in styles and values found on
Kahn NY, Dorset Rex, Florida Handbags,
Gilli Originals, Llewellyn Lewsid Jewel, various internet sites.
The vintage Lucite fashion purse
Llewellyn NY, Maxin, Myles Originals, phenomenon supported many designers,
Nelson Originals, Patricia Made In Miami, Wilardy rare hand-painted poodles and flowers
Rialto of NY, Shoreham, Tyrollean, Venzer, on a beaded BLACK rectangular box shape. manufacturers, chemists, purse decorators, and
and Wilardy. store employees. It’s part of America’s history.
Prices have increased significantly for desirable purse shapes can Most of the companies
excellent to mint condition examples. These be hard to come by. The which created this popular
purses had an original store price of $5 up bee hive shape is one such art form cum fashion trend
to $65. In today’s market a well-cared-for example. It exists with are gone. The trend had a
Lucite purse, showing gentle signs of use, will various lids. One such lid was good run, continuing from
the Art Deco to Space
usually cost $75 up to a figure of $2,000+ for manufactured by Llewellyn
an ultra-rare style so in demand by collectors. Lewsid Jewel. The beehive Age Modern eras, running
Rare colors are Blue, Navy, Pink, Green, and purse maker’s daughter concurrent with some
Baroque Revival stylings.
the very hard to find Reds. Bi-colors are fun recounted to Tricia that, as
to find. Confetti, iridescent colors, and mother a girl she was in the factory Oh, but wasn’t it a
of pearl are some collectors’ favorites. Then, with her father, a partner in fantastic good time while
there are the gem purses, which are artfully the firm. He playfully buzzed it lasted? In USA, when
embellished with pearls or rhinestones, and the little sculpted brass bees some new fashions last
some with metal mounts. Footed and not- in the air around her before barely one season now,
footed models are available as are the more laminating them into a form the plastic fantastic purse
common purse colors of white and grey. for the purse’s lid. Tricia fad lasted for nearly two
Care of Lucite purses is extremely has been researching and decades in mid twentieth-
important, if you want to protect the value photographing because she Florida Handbags PINK uniquely century and looks like
in your item, whether inherited or collected. plans to publish a book of tapered shape purse has a carved it’s making a comeback
with collectors in the 21st
Basic care is the same if you bought it or it photographs illustrating the lid, plus it is laminated with silver
confetti and threads. century.
