Nancy Reagan's Personally Owned French Black Satin Evening Clutch by Renaud Pellegrino

Renaud Pelligrino, Paris, France black satin evening clutch personally owned and impeccably maintained by Nancy Reagan. 7.75" x 5.25" with scalloped trim. One internal pocket. Magnetic closure. Additional Christie's lot sticker and University Archives authentication tag hand numbered and signed by John Reznikoff. Fine condition.

Petite, always impeccably dressed and coiffed, Nancy Reagan was viewed by many historians as a “quintessential” first lady. She was well known for her interest in elegant designer classics and her keen sense of fashion. Although in part criticized in 1981 for wearing designer outfits during a recession, the First Lady recalled in her memoir, "My Turn", “But if I had suddenly started dressing differently, how would that have helped the economy? On the contrary: I was told that because so many women look to the first lady as a fashion leader, I provided a great boost for fashion designers.” She converted the criticism into comic fodder at Washington’s annual Gridiron dinner in 1982, when she donned yellow rain boots, white pantaloons with blue butterfly print, a blue blouse with white polka dots, and fake pearls and sang a parody of the song “Second - hand Rose.”Ultimately, she became loved for her transformation of the White House, and bringing back the aura of style and sophistication which had been slowly eroded. Nancy Reagan's love of timeless sophisticated design was pervasively apparent throughout from her choices in personal fashion, to her flair for interior decorating. She lived by her belief that the "White House should exemplify the best.” This fine condition black satin designer clutch is a wonderful example of the First Lady's love of fashion.

The Reagan auction saw record prices for a celebrity, including about $200,000 for cowboy boots and $100,000 for a sheet of Presidential doodles. This incomplete set was purchased with the hopes that individual items could be offered so as to share something intimate, private, and Presidential with clients who might not wish to own a large group. The Reagans entertained a regalia of people at their home, ranging from Heads of State and Politicos to their glitterati friends from the Hollywood days.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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