Pochettes en Fête

Pochettes en Fête celebrates the elegance, glamour and enduring allure of the vintage handbag. Bringing together a selection of beautifully crafted pochettes, clutches and evening bags alongside contemporary artworks, the exhibition explores fashion accessories not simply as objects of style, but as carriers of memory, identity and cultural history. From intricate beadwork and luxurious textiles to sculptural forms and exquisite detailing, these vintage and contemporary pieces speak to changing fashions, social rituals and the artistry of adornment across decades.

Presented as a special fundraising exhibition in support of New England Regional Art Museum, Pochettes en Fête invites visitors to experience a playful and sophisticated dialogue between fashion, art and collecting. The vintage handbag collection, generously donated by Jan White to raise funds for the gallery, forms the heart of the exhibition.

Image credit: European, embroidered purse, c.1910-20