Blue Purse Dotted in Yellow and Red Limoges Box

Polka dots instead of posies set this blue porcelain handbag apart, with yellow and red dots scattered across its body. It is a hand-painted Limoges box from Limoges, France, and one of the more graphic purses in the line.

Dots Before Flowers

Most porcelain purses wear florals, so the dotted pattern here feels fresh and a little retro, like a sundress from a mid-century fashion magazine. The primary colors play off each other: red and yellow warm up the blue and keep the look upbeat. Because the dots are hand-painted, their spacing is never perfectly even, which gives the piece a lively rhythm.

Retro Wardrobe Pairings

• Hand-painted porcelain from Limoges, France
• Fits a retro, mod or primary color collection
• Breaks up a long row of floral handbag boxes

Desks and Bookshelves

This purse looks just as good on an office desk or a bookshelf as on a vanity, since its pattern is more playful than romantic. It suits a birthday for someone with a fun sense of style, a retirement from a design job, or a thank you to a favorite teacher.