Age Fur Type - Capelet

[VintedMe]

Hello,

I wonder if anyone would know type of fur and approx age of my capelet. I believe it to be early 60s mink but don’t know for sure. Thank you!!
Anna

 

[furwise]

Hi there, Very pretty and one of my favorite feeling furs; Russian squirrel and it dates to the 50s.

 

[VintedMe]

Hi there, Very pretty and one of my favorite feeling furs; Russian squirrel and it dates to the 50s.

Wow!!! So I was off ;)
It does feel amazing indeed! Thank you so much for the very speedy response. May I ask what trademark features make you date it to the 50s?

Thanks again!!
Anna

 

[furwise]

Sure. You weren't that far off really because I would put it in the mid to latter 50s. I would refer to this as a cape however you could capelet in addition.

The lapels being longer in the front, the lapels not having pockets but open space that you could put your hands in, and the lining used, are all what helped me to date this.

 

[VintedMe]

Thank you so much!!!! This is such a lovely piece and learning more about it is very exciting

Have a great evening!

Anna

 

[furwise]

It is lovely and you're welcome. Learning is fun for us too.

Wishing you a great evening also.

 

[poppysvintageclothing]

Interesting...if I had this item I think I would have dated it as late 1940s.

 

[furwise]

I can surely understand why both of you might see either side of it. I had more difficulty finding 60s ads that looked similar but let me show what I can.

I won't be showing you lining photos so I'll describe the transition. During the war solid colored linings were used; blacks, wines, rust brown, etc. Flowered and other patterned linings started appearing after the war was over. Furriers used the stock they had though so the patterned linings were used moreso into the 50s and beyond.

I took some time so I could show you ways that fur capes transitioned from the late 40s to the early 60s.

Here's a 1948 Russian Sable fur cape that I had. I wish I could get it back as it first belonged to a socialite who attended gatherings with royalty. It was dated and I was able to find out quite a bit of info about the original wearer.

This next one dates to 1949. Notice the length and the wonderful swing.

As we get closer we will see the similarities get closer and closer. This is a cape from a Canada Furs ad from 1951. You see some similarities like the collar and the pockets but the pockets are clearly defined, this one as many from the 40s had a wonderful swing, and while you may not be able to tell it is longer in the back too.

This one is a Vogue ad from September of 1952. Your seeing that swing style and it's longer in the back but there's the layout of the tuxedo collar happening.

We are getting really really warm. This one is a 1953 Bennett Brothers ad -

We are getting so warm here. This is also from Bennett Brothers ad from 1953 and happens to be squirrel -

Now we are like burning up on fire. Someone please sound the sirens. This one is an a 1955 ad and is squirrel too. This image was found on pinterest but redirected to the people history -

Going on towards the 60s so we can see that difference too.

This one is a 57/58 Montgomery Ward ad. Style starting to change but tuxedo collar still -

Last one. 1961 Saga Mink ad. The collars are changing a lot, pockets are hidden within the fur but not under the collar, jacket style capes with little sleeves are present, there are more stoles than capes.

By now I have overloaded you and anyone else who looks with photos and I could post ads later into the 60s but the changes get so much further and further away with ring collars, giant shawl collars, simple stoles with pockets, and many with other features that are not nearly the same.

 

[poppysvintageclothing]

Fabulous information here, Caryn. Thank you so much.

 

[VintedMe]

Wow!! Thank you so very much for this detailed and very educational and interesting post!

I just had a fur distributer Look at it and the person was very dismissive and stated I could get maybe get$75 for it at best. I don’t really know what to price this at since I am hoping to sell. Do you have a range I could go by?

Thanks again!

 

[furwise]

We can't tell you what to price it at but we can help you in the way to offer you suggestions as to how you might be able to get an idea.

First, please do not rely on what anyone else tells you, especially online.
So much goes into pricing items from condition to photos, clientele, and market.

You can check the completed sales on eBay for similar furs to see what they sold for however you should keep your market in mind too.

Russian squirrel is a very soft fur and yours is from the 50s. Some would say a fur is not good because it's from the 50s but a fur that is well preserved is better quality than the furs made today. Plus wearing vintage furs help to save animals lives today.
Some might say the fur type is not a good one. Well, it was then, and those who appreciate vintage will appreciate it more now.

With all of that said sometimes you have to put a number on something on your own. You could totally be off but if you are trying to sell something and it doesn't sell you can always come down on price whereas it' s much harder to go up.