Artist Profile
A Passion for Purses

“Purses are like little pieces of architecture.” – Nula Thanhauser

Nula Thanhauser adores purses. She happily recalls, “I got the bug to begin collecting purses on my 40th birthday, celebrating in London with my best buddy. I found an antique Chinese purse from the mid-1800s with an exquisite forbidden stitch (also called a Peking stitch) on a very simple frame with intricate details and inlaid with coral and turquoise in the shape of a square. It is well-worn and gorgeous.” And with that fabulous purse, Nula was hooked. She began exhibiting and selling nearly three years ago and admits that she has basically reinvented herself with her passion for purses.

Today, Nula collects, exhibits and sells antique purses from the 1880s to the 1950s – and all are as found. According to Nula, collectors prefer them in their original state. She also collects sterling silver purses with precious stones, Victorian and Edwardian purses with rubies, sapphires and emeralds, antique purse frames and vintage and antique fabrics. Among her favorite purse frames are unique Art Deco and Art Nouveau frames (made in America) that capture the true essence of American style.

And Nula doesn’t stop there.  She collects iconic purses – typical of a particular era or favorite designer, such as Judith Leiber, who has a 40-year following designing purses (with a bit of whimsy), called minaudier, meaning little flirtation. Nula also loves purses by Josie Natori, who only created purses for 3 - 4 years.

Nula recounts that one particular vintage Chanel purse – a large custom-made, quilted alligator purse from the 1950s – “made her heart sing,” and she admits to “thoroughly loving the purses of the 1940s and 1950s.”

Belonging to the Antique Purse Collector Society, Nula enjoys bringing purses from the Art Deco era, beginning in the 1920s, to purses of the ’60s, explaining, “French stitch purses are quite exquisite. They are little tapestry bags, and the early 1960s purses are hand-done needlework, appearing as photographs.” The society meets every year to appraise, share, sell, discuss and gather information on particular purses.

One of Nula’s favorites is a late-German or Austrian early 1930s Deco purse. She describes it as, “a box-like structure with a decadent, elongated silhouette on each side, with a minimalist and almost haunting feeling.” Impressive to this avid collector, as well, are purses with frames made of precious metals – gold and silver – made by Tiffany, Gorham Silver and Cartier.

For Nula, all of these unique purses are meant to be used. “I use antique purses all the time. They have their little personalities, and they want to go out and be seen!”

Nula will be exhibiting her purses at the Meet Me in St. Louis Antiques Show & Sale at Queeny Park, September 19 - 21.