Sculptor Marcus has $1.8m handbag nailed with latest artwork (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bingley sculptor Marcus Levine has $1.8m handbag nailed with latest artwork

7:00am Thursday 14th February 2013 in News

Bingley sculptor Marcus Levine has re-created what was once the world’s most expensive handbag – out of nails.

The artist, who uses nails to create three-dimensional sculptures, based his latest work on the $1.8 million handbag, called the Ginza Tanaka.

He was commissioned by a member of the Variety Club of Great Britain, Gerry McDevitt, whose wife collects handbags.

Mr Levine met Mr McDeviitt when he gave a sculpture to the Variety Club’s Stag Night, held in December to raise funds for the charity’s Sunshine coaches.

The original handbag was made by a Japanese jeweller in 2008. Mr Levine has made his sculpture out of Swarovski gem stones glued to the heads of the nails.

“The original handbag was meticulously crafted by skilled artisans out of 95 per cent pure platinum, and 2,182 diamonds totalling 208 carats were set into the bag,” said Mr Levine.

“The shoulder straps were studded with 233 diamonds and could be removed and used as a necklace or a bracelet. It was reputedly sold for $1.8 million and was at the time the most expensive handbag in the world.”