Deep Blue Floral Handbag Hand-Painted Limoges Box

Deep blue gives this porcelain purse an evening-out look, and painted flowers bloom across the surface like a print on a silk clutch. The box was hand-painted in Limoges, France, where Limoges porcelain has been made for centuries.

A Bag for the Opera

Among pastel purses, a dark color immediately reads as dressier. This one has the feel of the bag you would carry to a concert or a formal dinner, with the flowers adding a romantic touch against the blue. Because the piece is porcelain, it is all about the look, a small tribute to the handbag rather than one to carry.

Building a Row of Handbags

• Painted by hand on porcelain in Limoges, France
• Anchors a handbag or fashion grouping with its darker tone
• Pairs well with light blue and white floral purses from the same family

Where It Looks Its Best

Set it on a dressing table next to a jewelry tray, or tuck it into a glass cabinet among lighter pieces so its color stands out. It is a natural choice for an anniversary, a birthday, or a thank-you for a friend who never leaves home without the right bag. A deep blue piece also brings weight to a shelf that might otherwise feel too soft.

Porcelain With a Past

Small porcelain boxes became the fashion in eighteenth-century France, when they held snuff, pills and beauty patches. This purse continues that tradition in a modern, playful way.