It is a means for transportation, a useful companion, a status symbol, and an object of desire. It is available in countless styles and for the most diverse of occasion, be it for shopping or travelling, work or sport. No other object is kept so readily to hand while carrying everything we need on the go: Die Tasche (The Bag).

This multifaceted publication delves into the European cultural history of the bag as an everyday object, fashion item, and luxury good used across the globe. And our choice of bag reveals a great deal, in that it reflects individual requirements, style, and personality. Social developments, technical advances, and changing fashion trends have shaped the design over centuries to the present day.

Over two hundred exhibits from three millennia—from ancient Egyptian leather pouches to Middle Age belt bags, the first travelling cases from the 19th century to practical backpacks, elegant handbags, and models by renowned designer labels such as Hermès, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci—tell of one of humankind’s oldest accessories. 

Text in German.