Handbag exhibit tells stories of the women behind the bags
This holiday when you're looking for a way to entertain guests, take a short drive to the Lake County Discovery Museum to enjoy its latest exhibition, "Pocketbook Anthropology: A Treasure of Handbags."
The new traveling exhibit, organized and toured by ExhibitsUSA, and supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities, takes a whimsical look at this artful accessory. By any name --handbag, purse or pocketbook -- this essential component of women's lives is more than a mere personal possession.
More than 80 purses dating from the 1890s to 2006 are displayed, representing a wide range of colors, materials and styles. Many purses are what you would expect with their familiar iconic shape made of hand-tooled leather, plastic or embellished with jet black beading. Other purses break the mold completely such as novelty purses -- in the shape of poodles, champagne buckets, or birdcages -- which have gone in and out of style since the 1930s.
Simply put, a purse is a container for life's necessities, but it also reflects its owner's individuality.
During World War II (1941-1945), when everything from sugar to tires was rationed, women found a variety of ways to help the war effort including "recycling" purses by adding plastic cherries or a bit of ribbon to make an old purse seem new again.
Some purses are a story in themselves. Take for instance the purse on loan from voice actor Nancy Cartwright, best known for her role as Bart Simpson on the popular animated TV series "The Simpsons." The "Ponderosa" purse was purchased because of the name association with the Cartwright family on TV's "Bonanza." Along with the western-themed purse, Nancy included a hand-drawn map of the Cartwright's Ponderosa.
For many women, the right handbag is essential to making the best impression.
The owner of the Christian Dior leather bag on exhibit purchased the purse for $1,200 and carried it around the world to conduct international business. "Carrying the bag helped jump language barriers, and gave me an edge up," Casey Murphey said. "I was perceived as a successful businesswoman who was safe to do business with."
From designer handbags by Louis Vuitton to a homemade linen purse from the 1920s, "Pocketbook Anthropology" provides a colorful, story-filled exploration of the relationship between a woman and her handbag.
The museum is open every day except Christmas Day and New Year's Day, and the exhibition runs through Jan. 20. For hours, call (847) 968-3400.