Never before has a book examined the intimate link between the fine art of purse making and the fashion history of purses - until now. Purse Masterpieces: Identification & Value Guide by Lynell Schwartz expands upon recognizing purses as art, the delicate art of purse making, architecture as inspiration, the manufacture of mesh, a look at fabric, rare and unusual pieces, vanity bags and compact purses, frames, and works of celluloid. The book traces the transformation of fine art masterpieces into vintage beaded and petit point purses, identifying those taken from the paintings of Raphael, Millet, and Fragonard among others. Along with detailed photographs, there are vintage advertisements and catalogs, original design sketches, purse making instructions, and rare assembly photographs which provide fascinating peeks behind the production scene. Author Lynell Schwartz is owner of The Curiosity Shop in Chesire, Connecticut for more than a decade. Her articles and antiques have appeared in many national magazines and newspapers. She is nationally recognized as an authority on ladies' vintage accessories and is the publisher of the purse collector's newsletter and author of Purse Masterpieces, Vintage Purses At Their Best, and Vintage Compacts and Beauty Accessories.

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Purse Masterpieces: Identification & Value Guide