Student trustee Briana Pepe with a display from her purse and handbag exhibit. The items were found in the attic of the Smith-Cadbury Mansion.
The Historical Society of Moorestown’s Vintage Purses from the Historical Society Textile Collection features a display of antique purses and handbags showcasing design and artistry lost to time.
Most of the bags were made during the 19th and 20th centuries and exhibit a variety of techniques, designs and materials, include crochet, needlepoint, intricate beading and even chainmail. From the reticules of the early 1800s to the Art Deco clutches of the 1920s and ’30s, the bags are considered timeless pieces of both function and beauty, and the historical society’s collection includes more than 20 of them that span those categories.
The exhibit – on display through January – was curated by student trustee Briana Pepe, who’s been with the historical society since the summer of 2023.
“We went in the attic (of Smith-Cadbury Mansion) and (historical society Vice President Linda Vizi) had introduced me to all these old purses, and it started as I was just taking pictures of them and putting them into the (historical society’s) catalog,” Pepe recalled of the exhibit’s beginning.
“But then we got really interested in the history of how … Why all these beaded bags were so in fashion and the different types, different dates, how they evolved from really the start of the 19th century to the Art Deco period and even past that,” she added.
“And it just kind of spiraled from there.”
In addition to displaying the beauty of the bags themselves, the exhibit contains select stories of their owners. A handbag, though it may seem like an insignificant fashion accessory, can depict a snapshot of what everyday life was like for women across the centuries. Marguerite Coates Cowan, a longstanding member of the historical society, donated several family handbags owned by her and her ancestors.
“There are things that you just don’t really think about,” Pepe offered. ” … It’s a purse, it’s just a part of life, but then when you really go back and learn about why we use purses … When you delve into these things it’s really cool to look at, and it shows us a lot about our current society and how it’s the same and how it’s different from how people lived before.”
The exhibit is expected to be on display through January; the historical society website will have updates.
“I think it really says something that these antique bags are still here after 80 years, and today our handbags …” Pepe noted. “My backpack, I’ve used it for two years and it’s already falling apart. It’s interesting to look at how unique they (the antique bags) are and how well they held up, and why we’re not still using those methods.”
