Lot of Plasticflex Plastic Tile Purses. 1940s. Maker: Plasticflex. Four Plasticflex brand bags (with red apple motif on tag because they were made by the company Robert Appel, New York). They all feature lightweight plastic tiles fastened together with cloth or leather lacing to form a zip-top purse. The brown clutch has an acrylic or Lucite pull. The ivory clutch has red and green laces (which are flaking with age), a red zipper, and a red crochet handle, possibly added later. The brown and white one has narrower tiles. The ivory one also has narrow tiles, and the addition of handles, which are rare for Plasticflex purses.

I love these because I love the combination of plastic and unusual or beautiful shapes. I don’t know why. I think it’s a tactile thing. I just want to touch them. I also collect early plastic and celluloid jewelry and have a lot of necklaces, pins and bracelets from the ‘40s and ‘50s. Which would require an entirely new blog!

To see more detailed pics of these bags, please check out The Vintage Purse Gallery.