Judith Leiber Lizar Karung handbag, 1990s, Treasures & Pleasures Gallery
Judith Leiber, the name in handbags of elegant luxury, started her remarkable career as the first woman to join the Hungarian Handbag Guild during World War II. Of Jewish descent, she escaped the Holocaust and eventually immigrated to the United States in 1947 where she and her husband, George Leiber, founded the eponymous company that redefined accessories. Building her business on the principle of pairing innovative design with exquisite hand-craftsmanship, Judith Leiber has never swerved from this path as evidenced in the Lizard Karung onyx and hematite rhinestone studded evening bag above.
Judith Leiber handbags are signature favorites with international royalty, stars, and political figures. Nearly every First Lady dating back to 1953 has carried a Judith Leiber to the Presidential Inauguration ceremonies. Classic examples of her work are displayed in the permanent design collections at the Smithsonian, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and several other prestigious institutions around the world. In 1994, Judith Leiber received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers in recognition of her invaluable contribution to the art of fashion. Treasures & Pleasures can be contacted here about the artful piece above.
