loading image

Hand-tooled and embossed leather bags became popular around 1900 and continued to be fashionable until the late 1930s. Taking inspiration from Arts and Crafts, Art Deco, and Art Nouveau designs, these bags were made of genuine English and Spanish steerhide, cowhide, and calf leather, and were made in hundreds of styles. Skilled artisans typically made these bags in cottage industry settings, and as their popularity increased, they were sold by numerous companies. This image was posted on March 28, 2016.

This post mentions the following things involved with the SFO Museum collection: