All That Glitters: Enid Collins Box Purses

Collector: Rachel Stewart
Collection Title: All That Glitters: Enid Collins Box Purses

Collector Statement:

"One day in 2015 I was browsing vintage purses at shopgoodwill.com and came across an unusual wooden purse with a turtle painted on the front. I thought it was cute, but what really intrigued me were the various gems incorporated into the design. I Googled the name mentioned in the description – Enid Collins – and not only did I discover who she was, but also that many more “Enids” were available for purchase online. There were so many wonderful designs, and I was hooked.

Enid Collins copyrighted 766 designs for her “wearable art” between 1961 and 1972. Some designs were entirely unique, such as Coq D'Or, and others were created as variations on a theme, such as Money Tree or Pavan. She also made totes out of canvas with leather handles and wooden bottoms, but I collect only the boxes.

In the 1960s, you could find Enid’s creations in high-end boutiques and department stores (at rather stiff prices, in my opinion - $28 in 1969 is around $240 today!). She eventually sold her company to the Tandy Corporation, which continued to produce the purses for several years under the name “Collins of Texas.” I have collected purses from both eras.

Interest in “Enids” has grown, and many are sold for much more than when I first started collecting. I still keep an eye out for specific designs, but it is harder these days to find any within my preferred price range. The most sought-after purses are often priced at $250-400 (I just saw one sell on eBay for $575!). I always hope to come across Enids “in the wild,” but I have found only three here in Iowa – two in an Ottumwa Goodwill and one in a Davenport antique mall.

Since acquiring that first turtle (Slow Poke), I have managed to gather almost 100 different purses. Some people like to restore their Enids, but I have only replaced a few gems here or there. I sometimes take one out for dinner or shopping, and it makes my day when someone comments on it."