Lucite box purse

The creation of the Lucite purse was a result of the advent of an affordable synthetic plastic material developed and subsequently patented by DuPont in the late 1940s. Modern plastics became an important part of post war, mid century decorating that swept the design world. Nowhere was this more evident than in the creation of the Lucite box purse. With the discovery of methods to tint the clear Lucite in a wide variety of colors, purse manufactuers began competing to produce fancier, more outrageous styles, using sparkling rhinestones, wild colors, and crazy shapes such as pagodas, bird cages, beehives, and even coffins complete with flowers laying under a domed clear lucite top. The Lucite was carved to add even more design interest and sparkle. Initially, these bags were wildly popular with movie stars, socialites, and highly paid prostitutes, but as time went on and more and more bags were produced with lower quality imitations becoming available, and the bags, like all fashion fads, fell into disfavor and went the way of the Edsel. However, like the Edsel, vintage Lucite purses today in fine condition are highly coveted by collectors with some selling for hundreds of dollars. If you are vigiliant and observant you may spot a Lucite purse in some old movies. One example is the clear Lucite box purse carried by Marilyn Monroe all through the movie "Niagara", 1953. Other examples are welcome.

References

* "Plastic Handbags, Sculpture to Wear" by Kate E. Dooner, Schiffer Publishing 1992
* "A Certain Style, the Art of the Plastic Handbag" by Robert gottlieb and Frank Maresca, Alfred A. Knopf, 1988