Clarice Cliff and Vintage Handbags

Whilst staying briefly at my sister's, I took the opportunity of photographing some of my mother's bits and pieces,including this small sugar bowl (?) by Clarice Cliff.I've read in commentaries on her work that the colours are a bit hit and miss, but I think that misses the point. Its the unexpectedness of the juxtapositions which makes them so pleasing, and of their time.

My mother had a box of vintage handbags we collected from jumble sales over the years.

This one dates from the 1950s or 1960s  and is hand embroidered, probably in the Far East,I'm guessing.

The beautiful moulded early plastic or imitation ivory handle really makes this bag, but its so simple, just silk crocheted in the round, with tassels all around the edge

This tapestry of an exotic bird is worked in silver and metallic coloured thread.I think it has a Persian look.

The colours are a strange combination which yet works somehow.Judging from the silk of the rest of the bag, and a clever hinged opening mechanism, I'd say it is from the 1930s or even 1920s.

The rich embroidered borders of traditional Chinese garments got made into things like this evening bag.The seam down the middle suggests that it was repurposed from another item of clothing.I just love the way the blue complements the peach coloured flowers, edged in gold.The decorative frame looks 1940s or 1950s.

Evening bags reflect the personalities of their owners, I find. This one is really delicate and beautiful, from the 1960s,I reckon.

Beaded bags are pretty ubiquitous nowadays, but in the 1970s the only way to get hold of them was to buy vintage, or in our case, jumble sale.The top two are probably from the 1940s I'm guessing, but could be earlier.The deco styling is really well realised. The lower one ccould be anytime from the 1930s to the 1960s, most probably the latter

Last but not least,a black and old gold evening bag with matching tassels.This could have been made to match an evening dress made in the same fabric.