Antique Beaded Purses

I bought my first antique beaded bag, right after Christmas of 1994.  I saw it as part of a holiday window display at an antique store in San Anselmo, CA on Christmas Eve, and I had to have it.  I couldn't wait till the store reopened a few days later!  Here are some pics of my modest collection (not all of them).

I got this one at an antique store in Sebastopol, CA in December, 1998.  I used to try and buy one around the holidays, each year, if I could afford it. 

I found this one in Fort Bragg, CA in the mid to late 90s; not sure which trip it was.

From the Palmer Wirf Antique Show in Puyallup, 2008.

Another one from San Anselmo, CA, purchased in 1996.

Victoria, BC, Summer 2005.  The store proprietor put a Canadian quarter in it for good luck.

From Chemainus, BC, Summer 2007

This one is very heavy as the tiny beads are made from cut steel.  It's bottom ribbon is broken and this must be handled with great care.  This was a gift from a friend of my mom's.  She gave me 2 other purses as well.

I used to have them on display, but moved most of them to an acid-free storage box because the dust, damp and pet dander was making them begin to deteriorate.  Someday I hope to have a glass case into which I can place them for display.  

Antiquing

I am one of those people for whom "antique" is a verb. I love, love, love going to antique stores, if for no other reason than to just look at old stuff. It's like being in a museum of Americana. Twice a year, there is a huge antique show sponsored by Palmer Wirfs of Portland, Oregon. It used to be in the Tacoma Dome but switched to the Puyallup Fairgrounds a few years ago.

I got up early in order to get the grocery shopping done so that I could be in Puyallup before the doors opened at 9:00 a.m. There was plenty of free parking and I entered at Blue Gate.

I find it curious that the Volcano Evacuation Route was pointing into the Fairgrounds. Sure, gather everyone in the same place and watch the lahar sweep them into oblivion.
I got my ticket and headed for the Showplex, one of the largest buildings at the fair.
I'd been looking forward to a Fisher Scone all week, so I was a bit crestfallen to see the Scone Wagon was closed.
However, once I got inside the Showplex, I saw that there was an open scone window inside!

YUMMY!!!!!
I spent the next 2 hours weaving my way up and down all of the aisles, taking in all of the cool, old stuff.
This booth was really beautiful with all Asian artwork, statues and the most amazing wood chests and trunks. Val, I looked for the horse & carriage from "Chinoiserie" but there wasn't one. (Click on the photos for a closer view.)

Some of my pics came out a bit blurry because I wasn't using a flash and trying to shoot without people noticing me.
These were the absolute CREEPIEST looking dolls and figurines. I would not want one in my house.
There were some people dressed in Civil War era clothes.

I could kill my mom for getting rid of all my lunchboxes, especially the metal ones.
Lots of duckies.

Of course I wanted to buy all of the pretty glass and sparkly jewelry.

I guess this explains the origin of the term "bombshell" when it comes to a pretty girl.



Huge, innit? Crowded too.
If there is one thing I wish, it's that MEN WOULD JUST STAY HOME! I don't understand why they feel the need to accompany their wives to these things, when all they do is stand there, in the middle of the aisles, with ZERO spatial awareness. Go home! Take your manhood back and stay home watching sports! Then there are the old men who like to 'set a-spell and spin a yarn' with various booth owners about the tools and wares, making it virtually impossible to inquire as to the price of items. Ladies, I'm begging you, leave the 'unnecessary accessories' at home to drink beer, watch TV and scratch!!

After I finally shopped my way through the Showplex, my feet and low back were killing me. I thought about getting a foot massage when I left.
The Civil War reenactors were outside, shooting their black powder rifles.

I don't go to the antique show with a list or anything. I just like to drift and see if anything catches my eye. This year, I scored a cute little Ontario license plate, which was probably a cereal premium. It's quite small, probably 2" x 5".

A nice linen postcard of Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill in SF.

I love to collect postcard folders/books. They have many photos of different sights, all folded together in a little booklet.

Postmark from 1948.

This was one of my biggest scores, a booklet of photos showing the damage from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. It's postmarked 1908 and extremely fragile.

One of the pages isn't attached so I scanned it.

This was also a huge find, and is also very fragile, which is why I didn't try to scan the postcards inside. There's no date on this, unfortunately, but it's clearly from the early 20th century.

I don't collect fans, but this one caught my eye and was a steal at only $6. You HAVE to click on this one to see the amazing colours.

I also found this adorable little metal box with jewels on the lid and sides. "Packed like lemmings into shiny metal boxes..."

I hadn't exactly planned on buying another antique beaded purse, but I could not take my eyes off this one. I knew if I walked away, someone else would buy it, so I scarfed it up. It dates from the 1920's.
That's the bottom. Isn't it cool? All my fave colours too!

So, all in all, a successful day at the antique show! I can't wait for the next time it blows through town in November!

Antique Beaded Purses

Back when we lived in Marin County, in the mid to late 90's, one of our Christmas traditions was to stroll along San Anselmo Ave. in quaint downtown San Anselmo, and take in the beautiful antique store Victorian-era inspired displays on Christmas Eve. One year I was transfixed by a gorgeous parlor scene with all antique, 19th century furniture and Christmas decorations. Laying on a table was an exquisite grey beaded purse with a colourful bloom of flowers. I was transfixed. I became obsessed. It's all I could think about all night and all the next day. I had to work on the 26th but Brian's company was closed that week, so he had instructions to wait by the store door and as soon as they open, to buy the purse. Unfortunately they were also closed that day. On the 27th, I had Brian pick me up at the bus stop in San Rafael and drive me over after work. The bag was still there, and thus became the beginning of an obsession that I can't seem to break, even though I can't display my most of my collection due to their fragile state, dust and pet dander that coats the entire house. I've noted the place purchased and approximate year they were acquired.