Blog for Bags and Purses lovers
In August 2007 journalis Paula Weidiger called me for an interview about my passion for bags. I was very pleased and honoured to meet her. Paula came to Amsterdam and was a nice interview and I was very pleased about the outcome of it.
Finacial Times interview
The Museum of Bags and Purses opened its doors for the first time in April 1996 in Amstelveen, a suburb of Amsterdam. When a business moved out, half of the Ivo family villa became available and the idea arose to transform this vacant space into a Museum of Bags and Purses.
The core of the museum’s collection is the bags and accessories that Hendrikje Ivo has been collecting for the past 30 years. Several donations have also been given to the museum, meaning the collection now totals over 3500 items. Luckily, Hendrikje had her skilful husband to help in the creation of the new museum which was one of the first in The Netherlands where the lighting was entirely realized by glass fibres.
After 10 years the museum in Amstelveen had become much too small for the collection and the increased number of visitors. Thanks to the assistance of a benefactor, the relocation of the museum to a splendid 17th century building on Herengracht 573 in Amsterdam.
Website Museum of Bags and Purses
With over 500 colour photos, Tassen offers a unique survey of the bag in all its forms: handbags, travel bags, make-up and evening bags, pouches, purses and chatelaines, tie pockets, wallets and letter cases, reticules and more, covering virtually all styles and materials.
The book includes a historical section, which explores the history of the bag from the late Middle Ages until today, and a section in which current designs are spotlighted. Space has been devoted to both exceptional and rare bags, and to the modern classics and bags from major fashion houses and leading designers. All bags in this book were borrowed from Tassenmuseum Hendrikje, Amsterdam.
