Evening clutch

Lord & Taylor

1933–34 · silk, metal · Costume Institute

Despite the economic conditions in America during the early 1930s, stylish accessories like this clutch bag were a must for the well-heeled woman. Here the scrolling pattern of the luxurious brocade textile suits the curves of the bag flap, and the inclusion of a matching bill and mirror case is an additional refined touch. The mark on the interior of the bag indicates that it was made with a textile from the Armand Hammer collection. A traveling exhibition and sale of Russian imperial artworks and artifacts amassed by the Hammer family toured the United States in 1933-1934. Items from the show were sold at high-end department stores, including Lord & Taylor in New York City where this bag may have been purchased.

Artist

Lord & Taylor

Date

1933–34

Medium

silk, metal

Culture

probably French

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Mrs. Harry Weinstock, 1961