Cable Car Purse Appraisal

Vintage Circular Copper Repoussé Purse with San Francisco Cable Car Relief

This is a vintage circular handbag, often referred to as a box purse, constructed with a copper-finished metal shell over a rigid frame. The primary decorative feature is a high-relief repoussé design on the front face depicting a San Francisco-style cable car, complete with detailed windows, passengers, and architectural lines of the vehicle. At the top of the relief, a brass-toned plaque is riveted to the shell with the word 'STREETCAR' embossed in a stylized font. The item exhibits a warm, medium-brown copper patina with visible dark oxidation spots scattered across the surface, particularly in the recessed areas of the relief and along the edges. There is significant scuffing and minor denting along the circular perimeter and some superficial scratching consistent with age and frequent handling. A modern 'Goodwill' price sticker is affixed centrally, which may leave adhesive residue upon removal. The construction includes a metal hinge at the bottom and a top-opening latch mechanism, though the interior lining is not visible. Based on the style and subject matter, this piece likely dates from the 1960s to the 1970s, a period when such souvenir-style metal purses were popular boutique items. The craftsmanship shows mass-produced yet charming mid-century novelty design, utilizing stamped metal techniques rather than high-end hand-tooling.