Have you ever picked up a mesh bag and felt it pour through your fingers like liquid metal? That's the magic of Whiting & Davis. For well over a century, this Massachusetts company has made the metal mesh bags that turned up at dances, weddings and nights out, and that so many of us remember from a mother's or grandmother's dresser drawer.
A short history
Whiting & Davis traces its roots to 1876 in Plainville, Massachusetts, where it began as a small jewelry maker. In the early days, mesh was linked by hand, ring by ring, often by women working at home. Around 1909 the company began using machines that could link mesh automatically, which made mesh bags affordable to far more women, and their popularity exploded in the 1910s and '20s.
The 1920s brought the colorful printed and enameled mesh bags many collectors love most, with Art Deco patterns, florals and geometric designs. From the 1930s on, the look turned sleeker, with flat gold-tone and silver-tone mesh that drapes like fabric. Mid-century evening bags often paired that smooth mesh with a rhinestone clasp, and that's the style a lot of people picture today. The company later worked with fashion designers and is still making mesh now.
The main kinds of mesh
- Ring mesh: These are tiny interlocking rings, used on early bags. It feels like chain mail.
- Flat or armor mesh: These are small flat links that lie smooth and make a solid surface, ideal for printed and enameled designs.
- Printed and enameled mesh: These are patterns printed or painted onto flat mesh, very popular in the 1920s.
- Gold-tone and silver-tone mesh: This is plain shimmering mesh, often with fancy frames and clasps, common from the 1930s through the 1960s and beyond.
How to find the mark
Most Whiting & Davis bags are marked, but you sometimes have to look. Check the inside of the frame near the hinge, a small metal tag, or a fabric label sewn into the lining. Many mid-century bags are stamped with the company name in a small cartouche, often with "Mesh Bags" and "Made in U.S.A." Mark styles changed over the years, so the exact wording is a clue to the age.
You'll also see other makers. Mandalian Manufacturing was Whiting & Davis's best-known competitor and made gorgeous enameled mesh in the 1920s. Plenty of mesh bags are unsigned, and those can be lovely too.
What to check before you buy
- The mesh: Gently run your hand over it, looking for snags, stretched spots, missing links or holes. Small breaks tend to grow.
- Plating: Look for worn gold-tone where the bag rubs, especially along the bottom and edges.
- Frame and clasp: It should open easily and snap closed firmly. On rhinestone clasps, count the stones.
- Lining: Linings were often satin or rayon and tend to tear or stain. An original lining in good shape is a real bonus.
- Chain: Check that the chain is secure at both ends.
- Extras: An original box or tag adds value.
Caring for mesh
Mesh is tougher than it looks, but it doesn't like strain. Store it flat or loosely folded in a soft pouch, not hanging by its chain for long periods, and don't overstuff it. Wipe it with a soft dry cloth. Skip water and metal polish, because they can damage the plating and the lining. Keep it away from things that can snag it, like hook-and-loop fasteners and rough jewelry.
Why collectors love them
A good mesh bag is wearable history. It feels great in the hand, it catches the light beautifully, and it goes with everything from a little black dress to jeans. Mid-century bags in excellent condition with an intact lining are getting harder to find, which is part of the fun of the hunt.
Tell us about yours
Did someone in your family carry a mesh bag to a wedding or a dance? Is there one still tucked away in a drawer? We'd love to hear the story.
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