vintage handbags repair & restoration

Performing Restoration Miracles on Antique Bags

* Judith Leiber: We offer full service for the total restoration of your Judith Leiber items.
Please visit our Judith Leiber Repairs page for the menu of all repairs offered.

* CHANEL: We offer full service for the total restoration of your CHANEL items.
Please visit our CHANEL Handbag Repairs page for the menu of all repairs offered.

* Whiting and Davis: All items restored as recommended by Whiting and Davis.
Please visit our Whiting and Davis Repairs page for the menu of all repairs offered.

Metal Handbags: From Sterling, Gunmetal, Mesh to gold plated pressed metal deco beauties, totally restored, relined and repaired as you wish.

BAKELITE PURSE TOP: Replaced broken (left) side piece to duplicate original remaining piece to attach to wrist strap.

Before

Close-up of painted ceramic figure purse topper

CARVED BAKELITE FRAME

  1. Frame restored where broken

  2. Body replaced with vintage velvet including handle

After

Velvet pouch with whimsical ceramic portrait clasp
Vintage metal purse with ornate clasp.
Vintage ornate silver purse with chain handle.

REPLACED MISSING FRINGES AND POLISHED

14 KARAT GOLD MESH PURSE

Antique gold mesh purse with chain handle

The fine 14 karat gold mesh is re-attached to the frame (as before) with all other tears restored and missing mesh replaced.

Gunmetal mesh Victorian Purse restored, including repair of holes, re-attaching to frame, and re-lining as before.

Before

silver mesh coin purse with decorative frame

lining replaced

open vintage purse showing black interior

After

antique beaded evening purse with metal frame

*Painted Silk Antique Bag:  In our attempt to restore (where fabric is delicate, suffering from aging and dry rot due to aging ...we mounted the fabric on vintage inspired silk, repainted, embroidered, re-backed and hand stitched the painted portrait of the “Native American inspired Princess” as well as the painted “Forest Scene.”

Before

Sheer pouch featuring feathered headdress painting

Before

Frilled fabric pouch with birch painting

After

Headdress portrait painted on fabric pouch

After

Ruffled pouch with painted lakeside scene

All original embroidery restored and transferred to fabric (reproduced ,antiqued and dyed - exact replication of original.)

Before

Embroidered drawstring bag with landscape motif

Reticule Bag of “ladies golfing” - ravaged by time - and now perfect again!

After

Beaded embroidered scene with figures and trees

Before

Worn embroidered silk pouch with green foliage

After completing the transfer of images,  to silk - the body of the bag was installed onto the original lining and drawstring structure.  The completed bag then received an exact replacement for the missing tassel

After

Embroidered silk drawstring purse with figures

FRENCH EMPIRE REVIVAL SILK PURSE

Before

Close-up purple silk with gold floral embroidery
Antique cream frame with purple embroidered silk

All embroidery (using gold metallic threads, as before) was redone.

Using antique horse eye shaped paillettes and period round paillettes and cut steel beads, all detailed areas were restored.

Lock was installed and bag set back onto frame, looking wonderful again.

All embroidery (using gold metallic threads, as before) was redone.

Using antique horse eye shaped paillettes and period round paillettes and cut steel beads, all detailed areas were restored.

Lock was installed and bag set back onto frame, looking wonderful again.

After

Triangular purple evening bag with gilt mounts
Figural tapestry pouch with black tassels

WIENER WERKSTÄTE

Restoration of original beaded bag.  Removed from metal frame - returning to originally intended draw string design.

Small tapestry coin purse with ribbon ties

*Frame Restoration or Replacement:   stone replacement, re-beading, enamel repair, hinge restoration  replace missing pieces  or complete frame  replacement.

Antique purse showing repair areas marked
Ornate beaded evening bag with jeweled frame

*Needlepoint, Petit Point Embroidery:  Restored , re-framed including re-sewing damaged or  incomplete areas.

Tapestry purse interior showing black trim

Antique Austrian Petit Point Bag Re-set bag’s body into the channel of frame and secure as before with interior binding.

Floral needlepoint evening bag with chain

Josef Beaded bag - France

Replacing the beading, lining and even the missing beading on the thumb pull.

Closeup purse clasp and frame detail
Floral bead clutch cleaned and restored

Fringe Replacement and Bead Replacement:  Replaced using coordinated colors and sizes to restore.

GLASS BEADED TWIST FRINGE:
Restored by adding missing fringe (right side) as original.

Multiple vintage purse repair before and afters

*Re-framing Vintage Handbags: switching a bag from one frame to another, including reformatting a bag to fit just the perfect frame.

Removed scenic bag from the simple frame.

Tapestry purse restoration showing before and after

Altered the sides and top of the bag, in order to fit onto the more ornate jeweled frame, including lengthening the side openings from 1” to 2” to fit properly

Brown silk pouch purse with carved top

CARVED CELLULOID PURSE FRAME
Set on a vintage purse body .
Supplied a wonderful chain handle

Round crochet straw purse with ivory frame

Transferred antique purse body to Beautiful Carved Celluloid Frame

Round woven handbag with gold chain and clasp

VINTAGE NEEDLEPOINT PURSE

Replaced broken (original) frame by adding a replacement (vintage) gold tone metal frame and chain.

Black floral needlepoint purse before and after
Purple velvet evening purse with repaired handle

VICTORIAN MINI PURSE

* removed remnant of broken handle.
*polished the frame, removing rust and verditris.
*replaced the handle, using vintage faux tortoise.

ANTIQUE GOLD TONE AND ENAMEL PURSE FRAME

* Replaced body of purse and lining using antique style faille fabric using original to keep both style and size.
* Replaced thumb pull with enamel to match original floral enamel.

Black vintage handbag with ornate gold frame
Black velvet coin purse with jeweled frame

POIROT

Carved Celluloid Frame

Handcrafted buttons to match frame, including circular pull - attaching vintage velvet frame and tassel.

Antique French frame: replaced missing stones, removed vertigre, installed   body of bag and lining.

*Diamante: total restoration from stone and settings to total repair of torn areas and re-finishing frame.

Before

Hanging beaded mesh evening purse

After

Small crystal mesh shoulder bag

* Frame: 150+ stones replaced
*All bezel set stones connected
*Total cleaning so that all aspects glitter on this sterling diamanté rare treasure.

Mesh repaired and replaced as well as prong set rhinestones using vintage pieces

Mesh evening purse restoration before and after

*Bead Restoration: total restoration, including replacement of missing beads and holes repaired on both handbags and other beaded items

Decorative beaded trim with pink cabochons

FRENCH BEADED BAG WITH LIMOGES CAMEOS ON FRAME

Cream handbag with replaced pearls and beads

Fringes totally restored on antique scenic beaded bags, using only matching vintage beads to maintain style and coloration

Vintage tapestry handbag with fringe and chain
Sequined evening bag restoration before and after

VICTORIAN WRIST PURSE:
1. gold plated purse frame
2.replaced missing pearls on frame
3.sewed on ball and looped fringe.
4.set body of purse onto frame as originally intended.

Restored crocheted round purse with pom-poms

Restored missing beadwork on tassels, and restore all torn areas.  Added a vintage frame (after offering several for the client to approve) then styling a vintage lining (replete with lace trim).

Repaired vintage beaded bag before and after
Beaded purse restoration before and after montage

*Deco Box Bags: Rebuild from scratch, reshaping, re-mirroring, re-lining.

Before and after mirror replacement on box
White beaded poodle figurine with curled fur
White beaded poodle doll with yarn hair
White beaded poodle sculpture on black background

Walborg Antique Poodle Purse in White Pearls. Replaced missing antique glass eyes with perfect hand poured glass eyes. All missing pearls and torn areas perfectly sewn as well as zipper pull replaced. Replaced interior parts so that legs and feet are perfectly positioned.

*Suede Stain Transfer: Deco suede bags restored and made wearable again while keeping shape and style.

Fabulous Deco Suede Handbag
Original (shedding and torn) handbag body was duplicated (using fine suede) and then installed on the original frame, allowing our client to continue enjoying her mother’s treasured handbag.

Black cloth handbag with cream handle
Antique purse before and after restoration.
Walborg beaded bag restoration description text.
Elegant black handbag with beaded embellishments.

JEWELED HANDBAG FRAME
Replaced the missing fabric wrist strap and purse body as well as lining.
We used all vintage materials in the original style, size, etc.

Empty wallet labeled "Before" on black background.
Empty purse labeled "After" on black background.
White textured object with "After" text.
Restored Art Nouveau mesh bag with instructions.

*Alligator: no repair too difficult, from handle replacements or repair - to restyling.

Deco Alligator Handbag:

1. Replace the handle with genuine alligator handle - as before.

2. Re-finished the exterior - restoring damaged areas, returning color, including moisturizing, polishing.

RETURNED TO WONDERFUL CONDITION AGAIN.!

Pricilla of Paris
Vintage Alligator Handbag
Handles replaced with vintage chain as requested by client.

Vintage beaded evening purse with ornate gold frame

Antique Beaded Purse on Original Jeweled Frame. Polished Chain and Frame

Open beaded vintage evening purse with chain

Replaced Lining as originally designed using antique lace trim

Vintage Handbag from Cuba:

Restored the damaged alligator decoration, body of bag -then replacing torn strap with deco bakelite chain.

Deco Exotic Skin Handbag:

Restored the skin tab, re-attached the original metal finding (right side of bag) and supplied a new shoulder chain. My client chose this vintage gold plated belt for the updated look. Completing the work, we polished, moisturized and touched up the wonderful bag.

*Fabric Handbags: From fabric replacement to restoration of badly worn areas.

Customized hand sewn body for antique purse me, keeping all lines (original to underlining) as well as style of original.

Decorations on trees and coloration of monkey blends with the genuine coral stones on this magnificent antique purse frame.

ONE OF MY FAVORITES FOR A CLIENT WHO ENJOYS MONKEY SUBJECTS AS WELL.

Black clutch with monkey and blossoms.
Black clutch with gold floral embroidery and tassel

1. Restored the metallic fringe and saved from future fraying.
2. Replaced the torn / worn piping with (unused) vintage piping, hand sewn.
3. Sandwiched (vintage unused) stiffening lining to assure shape in the future.
4. Replaced missing rhinestones were needed.

Black velvet embroidered evening bag with tassel

1. Polished frame, preserving antique finish.
2. Replaced lining with same peach colored fabric, vintage-style lace.
3. Sandwiched (vintage unused) stiffening lining to assure shape in the future.

Before and after vintage frame and purse restoration