RARE 1980's José Cotel Paris Suede Handbag with reverse carved Lucite floral handle -Couture Parisian French Designer FREE SHIPPING
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RARE Collectible 1980's José Cotel Paris suede handbag with reverse carved lucite floral handle Large Handbag with a long shoulder strap for versatility.
José Cotel was a Parisian French accessory designer active primarily during the 1980s, renowned for his avant-garde, "couture-level" belts and jewelry. His work is characterized by bold, sculptural designs that often incorporate high-quality materials like hand-carved Lucite, leather, and ornate metalwork. He pioneered the use of reverse-carved Lucite—a technique where designs are carved into the back of clear plastic and then painted, creating a 3D floral or animal effect. His iconic pieces now considered wearable art, even residing in museum collections like The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the V&A Museum. Today, his pieces are highly sought after by vintage couture collectors and frequently appear on luxury resale platforms like 1stDibs
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), New York: Features his designs in their permanent collection. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search?q=José+Cotel&sortBy=Relevance
Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), London: Holds examples of his hand-carved Lucite belts. https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O133098/belt-cotel-jose/belt-cotel-josé/
Palais Galliera (Fashion Museum), Paris: Exhibits his pieces as quintessential examples of 1980s French high fashion.
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