VTG MM Morris Moskowitz Black Patent Handbag Cocktail Purse Crystals , 1950-70S

Description: A STUNNING vintage CLASSIC Morris Moskowitz ORIGINAL cocktail envelope purse. Two silver tone horseshoe shaped rhinestone encrusted loops attach to the top of the purse and the leather handles are secured with two delicate bands of rhinestones set in silver tone metal. It comes with a perfect mint condition mirror embellish with the "MM" logo in gold on back background, that slips into the cream colored satin pocket at the rear of the interior of the purse. There is a butter smooth leather pocket in the front and back interior of the purse. The sides and bottom of the purse are lined in black satin. No tears, stains or damage. I cannot find any similar to this that have come up for sale. So far appears to be one of a kind. It is small, as in a clutch size. It is 7.5" across. Bottom to top of purse (without handle) is 5.25". Bottom to top of purse with handle is 7.5" Just as chic as the day it was produced. A classic, timeless design. A stickler for quality, Morris Moskowitz and his trademark “MM” label epitomize a well-tailored, conscientiously evolving handbag fashion of the mid-century. Born August 28, 1911, the second of five children of Hyman and Rose Moskowitz, Morris grew up on New York’s Lower East Side. Morris Moskowitz started working at age 10, eventually quitting school at age 14, per a newspaper article. (Unconfirmed, however, a relative said family lore indicates he only completed the eighth grade and started working full time in order to help his siblings as his parents had both passed away.) He went to work at Dritz-Traum, a sewing notions and crafting company still in business today (as Dritz). He became a showroom manager by age 21, establishing himself as a hard worker whose ethic was a portent of great things to come. In 1937, Moskowitz had $100 to invest in a handbag company. He needed a total of $1,500, so he borrowed the balance from his sister Shirley. He and a business partner, which The Vintage Purse Museum believes to be Arnold Garay, started the Garay handbag company. Moskowitz was a family man. In 1939, he married Adeline Brass, whom he’d met when she worked in the handbag department at Martin’s department store (est. approx. 1903, closed 1979, now known as The Offerman Building, a NYC historic landmark) in Brooklyn, NY. They had their only child, Judith, in 1940. By 1948, the Garay business partners were successful enough to take out an expensive two-page ad in Vogue magazine. (The Vintage Purse Museum found what is likely this ad; scroll to the bottom of this post. Shortly after it appeared, Moskowitz and Garay discontinued their partnership.) Moskowitz started his eponymous company in 1948 or 1949, and thus began the MM brand. In 1952, high-quality wool manufacturer Forstmann (established 1904) collaborated with Moskowitz on MM’s line of wool broadcloth bags (see ad below). A 1961 article in the trade publication Handbags & Accessories, in its “Veterans of the Industry” section (to see the complete text of the article, visit The Bag Lady website), shares that Moskowitz’s focus was on creating bags of different materials, with the idea that it is the fabric that “commands the shape of the handbag.” This is exemplified in The Vintage Purse Museum’s collection of Moskowitz bags, which are all different in fabric and shape. MM handbags also represent the needs of the clientele, whether used as a daily handbag, to complement an outfit or wear for a special occasion. During Moskowitz’s nearly four-decade tenure at the helm of his company, he employed talent that went on to become their own big names, notably Judith Leiber (1921-2018), whose gem-encrusted “minaudieres” have walked many a red carpet, and Sharif El Fouly (also spelled "Elfouly," b. 1943), maker of high-end leather handbags. Other former Moskowitz employees include jewelry designer Marla Buck, accessories designer Deborah Zizza and philanthropist Elizabeth Newman, who remained a dear friend of the Moskowitz family. The Morris Moskowitz company received numerous awards such as the Schiffli (makers of the Schiffli industrial embroidery machine) Fashion Award in 1957, and 1960’s Lord and Taylor Award for creative contributions by American designers, as well as a Hutzler Bros. (Baltimore department store, 1858-1990) special commendation that same year. In 1981, MM received the Dallas Apparel Mart’s Flying Colors Awards in the category of accessories for bags and belts boasting the highest quality in leather and workmanship

Price: 165 USD

Location: Sequim, Washington

End Time: 2024-11-12T20:46:26.000Z

Shipping Cost: 4.88 USD