1960s Judith Leiber Handbags

Appraised on: July 16, 2005

Appraised in: Houston, Texas

Appraised by: Linda Donahue

Category: Rugs & Textiles

Episode Info: Houston, Hour 2 (#1005)

Originally Aired: February 6, 2006

IMAGE: 1 of 4  

Appraisal Video: (2:11)

GUEST: These are from my mother's collection. She purchased them in Dallas at Neiman Marcus from Stanley Marcus in I'm not sure what time-- maybe around the '60s or the '70s. She carried them to balls, and they were quite unusual, and I think they're very beautiful.

APPRAISER: Well, these are Judith Leiber bags. And Judith Leiber is a renowned purse company. She came from Budapest after World War II and started her own handbag company in 1963. She is coveted by celebrities, socialites. And these bags are in museums like the Metropolitan Museum or the Smithsonian. She always had a very great sense of humor. It was either bejeweled gold sacks or wonderful lions resting, or the fabulous seashell, which she also has in her book. They are also sold today, but they've been selling in stores since 1963. Um... they now are known as collectibles. They're extraordinary. They're extravagant. They're so different-- a departure from any other evening bag made or known in America. This one, from 1963, would now be worth about $600. This one-- all these stones are hand done. She had craftsmen do everything very, very, very neatly. And this money sack would be worth between $600 and $700. Now, this one, which is the shell bag, it s very well documented, and people just love the shell bag. I would say this at auction would be about $1,200.

GUEST: Wow. That's impressive.

APPRAISER: This collection at auction would be between $2,400 and $2,500.

GUEST: That's great to hear, as my mother has a collection of about 20 Judith Leiber handbags, so that's very nice news.