Elsa Peretti (American, b. Italy, 1940–2021), designer, Tiffany & Co. (American, est. 1837), manufacturer, Bean Purse, 1977, silver

Audio Description

Elsa Peretti designed this purse in 1977 for American jewelry house Tiffany & Co., who manufactured it. Elsa Peretti was American but was born in Italy in 1940. She died recently in 2021. Tiffany & Co. was established in 1837.

This is a silver purse in the shape of a bean with a clasp at the center front.

Label Copy

Elsa Peretti designed this purse in 1977 for American jewelry house Tiffany & Co., who manufactured it. Elsa Peretti was American but was born in Italy in 1940. She died recently in 2021. Tiffany & Co. was established in 1837.

The minimalism of 1970s fashion is matched only by the jewelry of Elsa Peretti. Inspired by natural organic shapes—beans, bones, snakes, claws—the designer was interested in creating jewelry that accessorized the style of the woman wearing it, not just her clothing. Peretti spent a lifetime making pieces with soft, rounded edges and sensual shapes.

The appeal of the bean has remained a constant throughout Peretti’s career. Considered a representation of a seed—the origin of life—Peretti has always kept its smooth form at the forefront of her designs. Variations on its shape have depended on the type of object she was creating, sculpting the perfect dip to accommodate the palm of the hand or the hollow of the throat. When examining a prototype for a new piece, she would wear it for several days to ensure it went with the body, not against it.

Back to Elsa Peretti     Back to the Audio Exhibition