San Francisco - March 21, 2007

Reversal of Fortune

Ruhtenberg Bags

A fabricated work of handbag fabrication.

Count Rutencrantz von Ruhtenberg felt lost. Everyone had found his life’s calling except him. Count von Count had numbers. Count Chocula had cocoa. The heroic deeds of the Count of Monte Cristo knew no bounds.

So the count took fate into his own hands — literally — and began crafting sumptuous leather handbags.

Soon, everyone in the royal court wanted a Ruhtenberg. The slouchy Alexander tote was large enough for Monte Cristo’s prison-escaping accoutrements. Von Count loved the one, two, three, four Greek coins on the Paperboy flap clutch. The strapless Cornelius in white cowhide was Chocula’s favorite milky mate.

The bags’ exclusive hardware and vintage silk linings made the kind of impression the count had been longing for. And enough cash to fill his Iliad purse.

Which counts for a lot.

Available at Anica, 2418 Polk Street, between Union and Filbert Streets (415-447-2878); HeidiSays Shoes, 2105 Fillmore Street, at California Street (415-409-6850). To see styles, go to vonruhtenberg.com.