1950s Vintage Jolles Original Evening Bag Beaded Purse

This is a vintage Jolles Original evening bag dating to the 1950s.  Jolles was founded in Austria in 1923 by Ida Jolles when she took over a needlepoint / petit point company, a skill that was dying due to competitive pressures.  Within a few years, she grew the company and the market  to the point that she employed 20,000 craftswomen, serving a global market and her products carried by high-end department stores such as Berdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue and Marshall Fields.  She left Austria before the outbreak of WWII and re-established her business after the war with factories built in the US, Belgium and Asia.  

This bag is adorned with faux pearls surrounded by white beads and filled with silver beads.  The clasp is studded with crystal rhinestones.  The frame and carrying chain are made of brass.  It is lined in a cream satin fabric with a pocket built onto either side.  It is stamped “Jolles Original” and an attached tag reads “Made in U.S.A.”.

The purse measures 7” across the bottom with a height of 5 1/2”.  It is in very good condition with the exception of one missing pearl and surface wear to a number of the pearls (see close-up photo).  The interior is fairly clean except for a lipstick mark at the bottom as well as some light soiling.  Despite this, the pearl wear is not that noticeable under casual viewing, so this evening bag presents itself very well.

This is a collectible vintage Jolles Original evening bag - Jolles Original purses are highly sought after and this is a very attractive bag!