Article: History repeats itself as mesh bags make comeback

Antiques

History repeats itself as mesh bags make comeback

Fashion must-have of 1800s returns

By RALPH AND TERRY KOVEL

Cowles Syndicate

Sunday, June 9, 2002

Mesh purses are back in style.

They were first used in the 1820s. The expensive early bags were made of real woven gold or silver.

By the 1870s, chain-mesh bags had come into style. The first bags were made by hand from interlocking metal rings. Companies sent the links to housewives, who assembled the mesh at home. Early chain bags had handles with a finger-ring attachment so a small purse could be held by a finger while a woman was dancing.

Mesh purses were made of nickel silver by 1895. By 1899, some were made of steel with a gold ...

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