12th March 2007

Armadillo Purse

I’ve kind of got a thing for armadillos. I’ve never seen one in person — a live one, at least… I saw a squished one at the side of the road once when I was in Texas for a business trip. I can rattle off random armadillo facts for you (They’re born as litters of identical quadruplets! The only one that can roll up into a perfect ball is the three-banded armadillo! The pink fairy armadillo is only four inches long! They carry leprosy!), but I think you’ll be much more interested in this:

My armadillo purse
My armadillo purse
Lined with pink satin!
Lined with pink satin!

Your eyes do not deceive you: this is a purse, made of an actual, real armadillo. It’s been bent around into a sort of football shape, clutching itself with its sweet little claws, and with rhinestones for eyes. It’s lined in pink satin, and has a mirror under its neck so you can check your lipstick. It is fancy.

I got this as a gift from my mom, who also has a thing for armadillos. She found it for me more than ten years ago, I have no idea where, and I don’t know how old it is. I’ve heard that they used to sell these down near the border in Texas, and that they were a popular tourist item.

There are currently 44 responses to “Armadillo Purse”

  1. 1 On March 13th, 2007, schmama said:

    I got this for you in Chandler, Arizona in 1992…it IS fancy ;o)

  2. 2 On June 19th, 2007, Nicole Adams said:

    I have a purse just like this I think. I recieved it when my Mother-in-law passes away and I really don’t quite know what to think of it or do with it…my anti-fur self doesn’t really want to own such a thing. Where did it come from and who can I sell it to! Any ideas?

  3. 3 On July 24th, 2007, Joe said:

    Surely if you don’t like wearing animals making profit from selling them on is even worse??!!!

  4. 4 On August 1st, 2007, Kimber said:

    That is the coolest thing I have EVER seen.
    I mean, sorry the poor beast had to give it up so someone could own a purse,
    but this little fella probably got taken out by a truck. Heck, armadillos
    in the south are like raccoons up here (Canada), but I don’t think a raccoon
    purse would be quite so cool.

    I might not walk around town toting my armadillo purse, but I’d
    love to have one as a conversation item.
    It’s actually quite striking in design — and did I say “cool”.

    :)

  5. 5 On August 23rd, 2007, Lindsay Brantley said:

    Nicole Adams, if you still have the armadillo purse and you want to sell it, i’d like to buy
    it!! http://www.myspace.com/brantley83 – that’s me!

  6. 6 On December 31st, 2007, Carrie said:

    I was just talking to a friend about an armadillo purse I received a long, long time ago
    and decided to look it up on the internet to see if any other purses existed. To my
    amazement, I came upon this site. I am shocked that my purse is exactly like this one
    but I don’t know the origin, significance or value of it and was searching to find an answer.
    The lady who gave it to me was very old at the time and I was about 10 years old and
    never thought to ask questions about it. If you know anything please let me know.

  7. 7 On January 25th, 2008, Meagan said:

    I have one exactly like it but the interior is a maroon colour,
    I want to get rid of mine but i dont know how much it is worth
    and i want to sell it on eBay but i dont know how much the
    starting price should be.

  8. 8 On March 6th, 2008, An Animal Lover said:

    If you really loved them, you wouldn’t buy a purse made of a dead aramidillo!!

  9. 9 On August 1st, 2008, Denise Burns said:

    I would love to find and buy an armadillo handbag. Do you still have it or know of anywhere I could find and purchase one? Thank you, Denise in Murphys, CA

  10. 10 On August 1st, 2008, Denise Burns said:

    I would love to find and buy an armadillo handbag. Do you still have it or know of anywhere I could find and purchase one? Thank you, Denise

  11. 11 On October 23rd, 2008, nancy gazecki said:

    Can I purchase this purse?
    Nancy

  12. 12 On December 29th, 2008, Marci said:

    Sell it on Ebay. Start it at about $55.

  13. 13 On February 28th, 2009, Alex said:

    I have fallen in love with this bag… Anyone who can give me a hint how to buy one? (Without having to deal with EBay auctions, please) . Thanks a million

  14. 14 On April 16th, 2009, donmna said:

    I love it too I want one I already had a frog bag and stupidly gave it away where can i get one of those??? thank you donna

  15. 15 On April 16th, 2009, donmna said:

    I love it where can I get one??

  16. 16 On May 17th, 2009, Rena said:

    I looked for one for years and finally ran across one at an auction. I thought I’d pick it up for $10,
    but there was another woman who wanted it as well, but not as much as me. I ended up paying $42 and the
    rest of the evening, women kept coming up to me oohing and aahing over it. I had some brass feet added to
    the bottom of it and I just love it!

  17. 17 On May 31st, 2009, Susan Gullickson said:

    I WANT ONE A CARRIED MY MOM’S FOR YEARS UNTIL IT FELL APART TO REMEMBER
    MY MOM I WOULD LIKE ANOTHER ONE WHERE CAN I FINE ONE The PURSE LASTED ME FOR 26 YEARS I’M 57 NOW

  18. 18 On May 31st, 2009, Susan Gullickson said:

    I WANT ONE A CARRIED MY MOM’S FOR YEARS UNTIL IT FELL APART TO REMEMBER
    MY MOM I WOULD LIKE ANOTHER ONE WHERE CAN I FINE ONE The PURSE LASTED ME FOR 26 YEARS I’M 57 NOW

  19. 19 On August 10th, 2009, Pat Lovejoy said:

    I have received an armadillo purse from my mother in law. It is similar to the one pictured but the lining is maroon. I would like to sell it. Please contact me if interested. It will go to the highest bidder.

  20. 20 On August 24th, 2009, tiffany said:

    My mom had an armadillo purse that I admired for so long because it was so different. I was in my 20′s then. I am now 44. My mom also had an antique store in Inglewood CA,now she uses the internet for her sales. I asked her about 2 yrs ago what happened to that bag and she told me she sold it. I was shocked. i would love to have that bag!!

  21. 21 On September 15th, 2009, marla said:

    I have 2 full armadillo purses. The tail comes up and over the back and connects behind the head to make a handle, the inside is hollowed out and lined and the top of the back opens up with a circular zipper and there is a mirror there. They have jewels in the eye sockets. One was my mom’s and she used it in the 60′s – 70′s and one was my aunt’s. They are pretty cool and have been sitting atop a bookshelf in my house as decorations. They are banned now, and I don’t believe it is legal to import them from Mexico any more. I recently had cancer and lost my home, will be homeless Oct. 1st and so am getting rid of everything I have, unfortunately, these purses need to go. I can send photos and will ship them…I can also accept payment through paypal.

  22. 22 On October 17th, 2009, Lexie said:

    I’m so happy! My sister found this exact armadillo purse in a thrift store in Portland, OR, and picked it up for me for $25.00 — expensive for a thrift shop.

    I just love it; it’s lined with a maroon felt-type material and in perfect condition. Good idea about adding brass feet to it; I’ll do that. I just hope I won’t get hassled “wearing” it in San Francisco!

  23. 23 On April 12th, 2010, deb said:

    I have an armidillo purse as well… given to me by my collector aunt 20 years ago. just went thru items I put away and would rather have it go to someone who will use it. in excellent condition . nice deepdark shiney color… all parts intact. mirror inside is cracked but could be replaced. I’ll also take highest offer. photod avail
    [email protected]

  24. 24 On July 20th, 2010, Ed said:

    I wanna vomit This is the horrible thing I have ever seen in my life!

  25. 25 On March 25th, 2011, Colette Jones said:

    I have this same purse that I purchased when I was 17 in Tijuana, Mexico at a purse store. My best friend and I talked the guy down in price. He wanted $30 each and we both bought one so he gave it to us for $25 each. I am now 42 so this price was quite some time ago! The inside of mine is also maroon and it has bright green bead eyes. Mine looks exactly like the picture. We thought they were Cool! I still just love mine.

  26. 26 On June 28th, 2011, rochelle hirsch said:

    If anyone has one for sale I would love to buy it.

  27. 27 On June 30th, 2011, Gord Hughes said:

    Hi rochelle,

    I know where one is for sale in a nearby store for $50. I am in Canada however.

  28. 28 On July 11th, 2011, rochelle hirsch said:

    Hello gord. I’m in Canada also. Could you let me know the name of the store as I would love to check into it. :)

  29. 29 On July 17th, 2011, rochelle hirsch said:

    If anyone has one for sale, I would love to buy it. :)
    [email protected]

  30. 30 On August 12th, 2011, Donna Bohn said:

    My husband purchased a armadillo purse years ago, at a yard sale. It has just been sitting on a shelf. It’s in excellent condition. It’s football shaped, has green beaded eyes, a oval clasp, gold with red color. There is a compact mirror inside the lid, still intact. The purse has a long braided handle attached to the purse. If anyone is interested in buying this, please leave a message at e-mail address. Would like to see it go to someone who would really like to have it.

  31. 31 On August 12th, 2011, Donna Bohn said:

    Please reply to [email protected] for the armadillo purse. Thank you.

  32. 32 On September 7th, 2011, Shannon said:

    My mother had one when I was little I’ve been looking for one for years. I use to play with it all the time lol.

  33. 33 On September 25th, 2011, Silvia said:

    How can you people not be ashamed by what you’re saying ? That is a poor animal. Do you actually believe that the people who sell those bags wait for those poor animals to die in an accident ? How can you be so cruel and wear an actual being as a PURSE ?!
    I’m sorry but I honestly can’t imagine a normal person wearing an animal for a purse, it just seems sick to me

  34. 34 On October 24th, 2011, Kim S said:

    I have a brand new one, I bought it years ago and never used it. If someone is interested…

  35. 35 On October 24th, 2011, Kim S said:

    Sorry, my email address is [email protected], and I am in Canada.

  36. 36 On March 3rd, 2012, Mariann said:

    I have a beautiful one. No holes or tears. All toes on feet, mirror, lining and eyes excellent. I don’t use it and I don’t want to sick it in a box to get ruined. I paid $80.00 for it. Would anyone like to make me an offer? I live in the Sacramento, California area

  37. 37 On March 3rd, 2012, Mariann said:

    edited Mariann: if you’d like an offer. Contact me at [email protected]

  38. 38 On July 5th, 2012, penny said:

    A friend just gave me a armadillo purse, the thing is, it doesn’t have a head on top, instead it has a claw, How can I tell if it is real armadillo?

  39. 39 On August 8th, 2012, Leisa Fudge said:

    I really want one of these purses! These are unlike the other armadillo purses I’ve seen. I’ll give what you paid for it. Please contact asap! 940-782-3888. Leisa

  40. 40 On August 22nd, 2012, shidley said:

    I know two manufacturers of these armadillo handbags, and I can assure you that these cute little critters are hunted down and killed to make these awful handbags that people fawn over.

    Seriously. If you love animals, don’t purchase these handbags. Armadillos are not just found dead and turned into cute purses. They are murdered for a sick person’s profit.

  41. 41 On August 22nd, 2012, shidley said:

    I know of two manufacturers of these armadillo handbags, and can assure you that these cute little critters are hunted down and killed to make these awful handbags that people fawn over.

    Seriously. If you love animals, don’t purchase these handbags. Armadillos are not just found dead and turned into cute purses. They are murdered for a sick person’s profit.

  42. 42 On August 22nd, 2012, shidley said:

    I know of two manufacturers of these armadillo handbags, and can assure you that these cute little critters are hunted down and killed to make these awful handbags that people fawn over.

    Seriously. If you love animals, don’t purchase these handbags. Armadillos are not just found dead and turned into cute purses. They are murdered for profit.

  43. 43 On September 20th, 2012, Ronda Pata said:

    have one to sell make me an offer 310-259-9971 Ronda

  44. 44 On October 29th, 2012, Pat B. said:

    I am selling an armadillo purse for my aunt like the little rolled up critter above. It was purchased for her by my uncle while he was on a business trip out west in the 60′s. It was never used and still has the tag which says “Bolsa legitima concha de armadillo Hecho en Mexico”. Anyone interested, please make an offer [email protected].