Unusual Designs

In the 1930s surrealism is at its peak. Designers adapt the movement and since came up with striking innovative and playful shapes and new uses of materials. One example is the clutch in shape of the cruise ship Normandie from 1935. Other exceptional purses are those made in the shape of animals: fishes, dogs, mice, cats and monkeys or in shape of fans, houses and more.

294

№ 294

Hyères' handbag made of antique postcards, Georgette Koning
The Netherlands, 1990
305

№ 305

Leather handbag in shape of umbrella with brass frame
UK, 1930s.
466

№ 466

Drawstring purse with silver thread trim
France, 17th c.
467

№ 467

Coin purse made of walnut and silk
Germany, 1868
763

№ 763

Jug-shaped knitted coin purse with gold metal ring fastening
Germany, 1865
886

№ 886

Silk purse with plastic frame decorated with flowers
France, 1920s.
956

№ 956

Metal 'Handbag' biscuit tin in the shape of a Gladstone bag, Huntley & Palmers
UK, 1904-1913
958

№ 958

Leather clutch with gold metal 'walking stick' decoration on top, La Popular
Mexico, 1950-1970
959

№ 959

Leather purse with plastic map of London and silver metal frame, Golden Age British Made
UK, 1930s
960

№ 960

Leather handbag folding like an accordion
USA. 1951
961

№ 961

Leather handbag with decoration in rhinestones and beads, Berger Bags
USA, 1950s
970

№ 970

Woven wickerwork handbag in the shape of a dog, with wool trim
UK, 1950s-1960s.
996

№ 996

Embroidered evening bag, studio Lesage, designed by Gerard Tremolet
France, 1988.
1070

№ 1070

Handbag made of plastic 'telephone wire'
USA, 1953
1076

№ 1076

Suede purse shaped like a die, Création J.B. Is Jeanne Bernard of Paris
France, 1950s
1113

№ 1113

Leather handbag with double lock
France, 1948
1118

№ 1118

Metal shoulder bag made from a film canister
The Netherlands, 1980s
1119

№ 1119

Fur children muff with plastic doll head
UK, 1920-1950
1206

№ 1206

Two plastic 'magazine' clutchs
Hongkong, 1970-1974
1207

№ 1207

Leather clutch in shape of the cruiseship 'Normandie'
France, 1935.
1233

№ 1233

Patent leather 'Dutch flag' handbag
The Netherlands, 1970s
1309

№ 1309

Magazine clutch, Elegance
Hong Kong, 1970s.
1360

№ 1360

Clutch made of lightweight square plastic tiles
USA, 1943.
1361

№ 1361

Clutch made of lightweight square plastic tiles, Plastiflex
USA, 1943.
1362

№ 1362

Clutch made of lightweight square plastic tiles, Gadabout
UK, 1947.
1378

№ 1378

Leather purse with three metal frames
The Netherlands, 1950-1959
1520

№ 1520

Hard plastic purse shaped like a boulder
USA, 1970-1990
1531

№ 1531

Children shoulder bag with dots and shoulder strap
Sweden, 1960s
1635

№ 1635

Suede clutch with metal frame, Zetbe
Germany, 1990s
1689

№ 1689

Plastic shoulder bag, Zandra Rhodes
UK, 1980s
1694

№ 1694

Imitation leather children purse shaped liked a poodle
Japan, 1950-1969
1698

№ 1698

Bag made of two dustpans, Studio Henk Stallinga
The Netherlands, ca. 2000
1705

№ 1705

Canvas painted shoulder bag, Petra Hartman
The Netherlands, 1999
1706

№ 1706

Plastic shoulder bag with clock, Spartus
USA, 1980s.
1771

№ 1771

Textile handbag with felt and semi-precious stone decoration
USA, 1960s
1772

№ 1772

Plastic bag of ‘telephone wire’    
USA, 1953
1798

№ 1798

Leather handbag, Anne-Marie of France
France, 1940s.
1799

№ 1799

Patent leather handbag with functional telephone
USA, 1980s.
1858

№ 1858

One-of-a-kind shoulder bag with tartan front flap, made for the jubilee Sotheby's auction celebrating 20 years of Hester van Eeghen
The Netherlands, 2008
1871

№ 1871

Linen and leather 'Cable Car' handbag, Enid Collins
USA, 1964
1874

№ 1874

Wooden handbag decorated with flowers, plants and sea shells, A Ladybag Creation
USA, 1950-1970
1877

№ 1877

Wooden handbag with an image of 'Circus Variété' by Anton Pieck
USA, 1972
1897

№ 1897

Printed fabric bag with fabric horse, rider image and plastic lamination
USA, 1950s.
1898

№ 1898

Leather handbag with unusual gold metal. C-shaped handle and base
Hong Kong, 1980-2000
2011

№ 2011

Painted canvas "Torsotas" clutch in the form of a female body, made for 2000 exhibition "Visie 2000", Petra Hartman
The Netherlands, 2000
2100

№ 2100

Patent leather handbag with functioning telephone, Dallas Handbags
USA, 1980s.
2174

№ 2174

Velvet handbag in shape of Citroen's 2CV, Nathalie Müller
The Netherlands, 1998
2375

№ 2375

Handbag made of small nylon discs, Dana van der Bijl
The Netherlands, 2002
2496

№ 2496

Handbag woven with silver and gold metal strips and plastic top
USA, 1953
2513

№ 2513

Imitation suede wrist bag with print
France, 1940s.
2523

№ 2523

Wickerwork handbag in shape of a fish
USA, 1960s
2571

№ 2571

Leather handbag with silver metal handle, Kathrin Hempel
Germany, 2003
2584

№ 2584

Painted canvas shoulder bag in shape of a corset, Petra Hartman
The Netherlands, 1999
2651

№ 2651

Satin handbag with embroidery and leather roof, Lulu Guinness
UK, 2000
2668

№ 2668

Leather suitcase-shaped mini handbag for doll
The Netherlands, early 20th C
2701

№ 2701

Wooden handbag decorated with multicoloured thimbles and gold metal handle
USA, 1972
2702

№ 2702

Wooden handbag decorated with historicised landscape by Anton Pieck
USA, 1972
2756

№ 2756

Leather shoulder bag with silver metal stand, Christobal Torres
France, 1975-2000
2766

№ 2766

Painted canvas "tulip bag" shoulder bag, Petra Hartman
The Netherlands, 1986
2795

№ 2795

The Stringbag made of suede net, Gilberthe Akkermans
The Netherlands, ca. 1997
2804

№ 2804

Heart-shaped patent leather purse trimmed with imitation fur, Marie Beltrami
France, 1985-2000
2863

№ 2863

Suede purse shaped like an umbrella
France, 1950-1960
2864

№ 2864

Magazine clutch 'Jours de France'
Hong Kong, 1970s.
2905

№ 2905

Bag-shaped ceramic sculpture, Lia Lemain
The Netherlands, 2001
2956

№ 2956

Plastic magazine clutch with print
Hong Kong, 1970s.
3034

№ 3034

Leather handbag 'Butterfly,' can be unzipped to form backpack, Els den Hartog
The Netheralnds, 2007
3097

№ 3097

Jute handbag Cable car decoration with imitation gemstones, Enid Collins
USA, 1970s
3222

№ 3222

Jugendstil ornament botanical vasculum with lid illustrated two people driving an automobile
The Netherlands, 1910-1920
3263

№ 3263

Handmade gold leather purse in the shape of a leaf, Jaguara by Ursula Schneider
Germany, 2005
3353

№ 3353

The 'Inner pocket' handbag, Sandra van Vliet
The Netherlands, 1994
3445

№ 3445

Textile handbag with a hat decoration covered with transparent plastic, Original Rialto N.Y.
USA, ca. 1959
3461

№ 3461

Wickerwork handbag Princess Charming with singing cats, Atlas of Hollywood
USA, 1950s
3462

№ 3462

Handbag made of printed textile covered with transparent plastic, Souré Bag New York
USA, 1950s
3472

№ 3472

Black and white imitation leather handbag with triangular compartments
Italy, 1980-1990
3473

№ 3473

Transiberiana' shoulder bag shaped like a tran, Braccialini
Italy, 2000-2010
3605

№ 3605

Leather and fabric handbag 'Tulip', Bylin by Linde van der Poel
The Netherlands, 2008
3613

№ 3613

Wood and cotton thread folding basket
Japan, 1970s
3614

№ 3614

Leather and canvas handbag decorated with match boxes
USA, 1960s
3618

№ 3618

Handbag made of crisps bags with textile handles, Latin Sisters Design Productions
The Netherlands, 2008
3645

№ 3645

Plastic handbag in the shape of a watering can, Pylones
China, 2008
3646

№ 3646

Leather handbag in the shape of a watering can, Picard
Germany, 2008
3648

№ 3648

Shoe-shaped textile purse, Red Bags
China, 2010
3649

№ 3649

Retro clutch in shape of magazine. Retro made in style of magazine clutch from 1970s, Papa Razzi
UK, 2009
3678

№ 3678

Leather shoulder bag, Robert Tenten
Germany, 2009.
3715

№ 3715

Leather handbag 'Sunflower', Braccialini
Italy, 2009.
3887

№ 3887

Handbag in the shape of a house on stilts, Door Thomassen
The Netherlands, 2007
3888

№ 3888

Leather handbag in shape of a shoe, Jan Jansen
The Netherlands, 1990s
3959

№ 3959

Patent leather handbag 'Tulip', Bylin by Linde van der Poel
The Netherlands, 2008
4074

№ 4074

Kangaroo leather 'Classic small' handbag, Massuniq by Shanna Deurloo and Robert Jan Snoeks
The Netherlands, 2010
4100

№ 4100

Painted canvas bag sculpture with porcelain figure as fastenings, Petra Hartmann
The Netherlands, 2007
4129

№ 4129

Leather 'Good Dog' clutch, Keecie
The Netherlands, 2012
4137

№ 4137

Mushroom-shaped "Fungo" handbag with rhinestone decoration, Braccialini
Italy, 2009
4138

№ 4138

Stage coach bag made of leather, Braccialini
Italy, 2009
4147

№ 4147

Painted acacia shoulder bag shaped like a teapot, Timmy Woods
USA, 2010
4177

№ 4177

Shoulder bag made of woven candy wrappers, Nahu Ollin by Olga Abadi.
Mexico, 2011
4186

№ 4186

Felted wool tote bag with black stitched and felted design, Jean Cacicedo
USA, 2000
4315

№ 4315

Purse made of car tires with ruched black rubber handle, TUBE by Paula Pontes
The Netherlands, 2004
4321

№ 4321

Snakeskin lip-shaped clutch with applique Union Jack flag design, Lulu Guinness
UK, 2012
4331

№ 4331

Patent leather 'Escape Car' clutch in the shape of a car, Lulu Guinness
UK, 2013
4501

№ 4501

Knitted sock-shaped purse owned by the famous Dutch children's' author Annie M.G. Schmidt
The Netherlands, 1980-1995
4579

№ 4579

Whisper' pin up embroidered magazine clutch bag, Charlotte Olympia
UK, 2013
4623

№ 4623

Hand-made leather purse in the shape of a chicken, collection VII by Cécile De Jaegher
Belgium, 2014
4643

№ 4643

Plastic-covered wickerwork purse in the shape of a lobster
Hong Kong, 1950-1970
4696

№ 4696

Suede handbag in the shape of an ice bucket, Anne-Marie of France
France, 1940s
4698

№ 4698

Synthetic textile purse with paper mache doll face on front, probably home made
France, 1920s
9004

№ 9004

Carved wooden "Maimi Flamingo" shoulder bag, Timmy Woods
USA, 2009
9085

№ 9085

Leather shoulder bag in the shape of a high heeled boot embellished with rhinestones
China, 2000-2010
9131

№ 9131

Patent leather London Taxi Clutch, Lulu Guinness
UK, 2009
9159

№ 9159

Leather book bag, Paloma Picasso
France, 1980s