Sometimes while browsing through museum archives you stumble upon a garment or accessory that fits the mood of a particular season or celebration. A perfect example is Joyce Francis's Lucite carved handbag (1997) featured in this post.
The self-taught artist's Lucite designs, usually hand-carved using a variety of different-sized dentist drills (a medium referred to as "cold carving" that creates an effect of fine cut glass with three dimensional motifs), are part of permanent collection of costume exhibits in important institutions, including the Victoria Albert Museum in London and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The bags, often carved from one block of material and featuring an opening on a side with a clasp fastening, incorporate elements and patterns inspired by nature such as insects and wild flowers, but also sea creatures. At times the pieces are also hand-dyed and lightly hand-painted.
Striking a balance between the visible and the invisible, the chateau-shaped bag featured in this post evokes with its crystal clear walls decorated with birds, vines, leaves, and flowers, a Spring mood ideal for Easter Monday. The pattern is also functional as it protects from view what's inside. The bag is featured in the "Head to Toe" exhibition (until 15th May 2022) at the Museum at FIT.
