This handbag is a stunning folk art creation, made in 1976, initialled and dated by a local civil engineer who was also a hobby woodworker. I will include a bio on the artist, alongwith the handbag. I purchased it at a family estate sale years ago. I think it was created but never used as a handbag and I have just used it for display as art/sculpture, but it is a functioning handbag as well.
The body of the bag is a hollowed out log. The closure for the top of the purse is a clever wooden tab that swings to open and close. The unique part is a bump on the log that you hold while opening the wooden tab closure! It is right in the spot you need it to be while opening. The handle is rope, and also another wooden cylinder to make the rope comfortable in your hand, and it is indeed comfortable to carry.
The top is attached on the back by a metal hardware hinge and the sides are attached by a metal loop on each side. The wood thickness of the ends is approx 3/4 inches and approx 1/2 inch thick for the rest of the wooden body of the handbag.
It measures approx 12 inches wide, measuring from the metal hardware loops that hold the handle, and approx 11" just across the wooden handbag. It stands approx 5 1/2 inches tall to the top of the wooden bag, and approx 6 inches to the top of the metal loop. At the deepest, measured at the side it is approx 6.75 inches deep. The handle drop is approx 6.25 inches. The handbag weighs approx 3 lbs 4 oz.
This is a beautiful vintage Mississippi folk art piece, well-designed and constructed. The exterior patina is a lovely aged natural color. I think it is cedar. The inside has a cedar appearance and a very light aroma of cedar wood.
Buyer to pay shipping. I will package carefully in a box and ship promptly.