1950s Mid Century Lucite Purse, Charles S Kahn Miami Florida

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Seller: joliebaetzel ✉️ (265) 100%, Location: Dunedin, Florida, US, Ships to: US & many other countries, Item: 403966207606 1950s Mid Century Lucite Purse, Charles S Kahn Miami Florida. 1950s Mid Century Lucite Purse, Charles S Kahn Miami Florida Label, Golden Marbleized Base and Cut Glass Lucite Top Vintage Handbag. Iconic MCM classic. Fabulous mid century modern iconic piece in excellent condition. This little hexagonal shaped bag with pearly patina finish has been stored away since the 50s and has no defects. The clasp works fine, but it is not a super snug fit, it could probably be tweaked a bit by a jeweler, metal closure shows fading due to years of being stored.  Label intact. 6' x 4" x 5" approximately.   I acquired this piece from an estate in Belleair, Florida. The person who owned this purse loved fashion and was the wife of a pilot. They lived in Hawaii during the 50s and 60s. By the 70s, this couple moved to Belleair, Florida. This piece is from her collection prior to moving to Hawaii sometime in the 1950s and one of a few pieces that were a part of her 50s wardrobe collection. About the maker, Charles Kahn, maker of fine handbags from the Vintagepursegalleryblogspot: " ... Charles S. Kahn, Inc. of Miami is perhaps best known for its 1950s Lucite handbags of very high quality, made at Mr. and Mrs. Kahn’s factory at 1351 NW 29th St., Miami, Florida (still in existence as a warehouse). ... The Kahns relocated from the Philadelphia area to Florida in the 1940s. Ronald remembers his parents as very elegant, which is evident in the type of handbags their company made in the 1950s. Charles S. Kahn Lucite handbags—with the "S" not standing for Charles’s middle name, but for his beloved wife and partner Sara—were among the most beautiful produced during that era. ... Although Lucite bags continued to be produced from their heyday until the 1970s by other manufacturers, the trend had peaked in the mid-to-late 1950s. ... In 1961-1962 the state of Florida implemented a tax on “intangible personal property,” which covered numerous non-physically present assets, including an individual’s stake in a business. Ronald ( son of Charles and Sara) remembers that his father closed his doors and filed for bankruptcy during this period, citing an unspecified tax. The Vintage Purse Museum found documentation proving that 1962 was the year Charles S. Kahn, Inc. shut its doors. Therefore, one can reasonably assume that his factory's closure was due to the state's excessive taxation on business ownership and other intangible assets. At that time, Ronald Mallory was living in Los Angeles, so his parents joined him there, opening a store with novelty bags and women’s clothing under the Chas S. Kahn/Avanti label. Some of these purses are embellished with faux gems and whimsical little scenes, which was a trend of the early- to mid-1960s, meant for women who enjoyed wearing creative handbags. The Kahns were in business throughout the 1970s, selling their wares in California and Florida. Charles passed away in 1986 and Sara in 1989. While their son Ronald holds cherished memories of a loving couple, vintage purse aficionados continue to collect and appreciate his elegant parents’ stylish contributions to midcentury fashion."
  • Condition: Excellent Vintage Condition
  • Brand: Charles S Kahn
  • Decade: 1950s
  • Style: Purse
  • Original/Reproduction: Original
  • Material: Lucite
  • Country/Region of Manufacture: United States

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