Age of and to save this coat?

[Joji Furukawa]

I found this beautiful black velvet coat at the thrift today from Holt Renfrew. I did a little research on the royal warrant and king George was king from 1910-1936. Is there anyway to narrow down the date even more? It has a cross body closure (missing button) and a beautiful fur collar.

Unfortunately, the fur has started ripping and tearing because the hide underneath is paper thin and very brittle. How would you recommend I fix this? Also what type of button should I use to replace the missing one?

It is really beautiful and every time I pick it up or move it, the fur rips a little more. I really want to save it.

Also, what are the snaps for that make the collar stand up? I uploaded a picture of what the collar looks like standing up, but it looks weird.

Thank you!

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

Hello,

Your lovely coat is from the 1930s. The fur is probably ermine. Sadly, there is not much to be done about the fur drying up and the disintegration. These old fur collars can sometimes be removed and replaced with a velvet or cloth collar, or you might find a replacement fur collar as they are available on Ebay on a fairly regular basis.

I am not understanding your last question about the snaps. Can you post a better photo?

Those old black velvet coats are often worth the trouble of restoring. They are so beautiful.

 

[Joji Furukawa]

Hi Barbara and thank you for your reply! The coat is absolutely divine so I definitely want to conserve it at all costs. It's too bad there's nothing I can do to repair it.

Reading over my last question I see I wasn't very clear. On the coat under the collar and on the underside of the collar there are snaps. Oddly, the don't line up on either side and to close them, it requires the collar to be bent and folded. In the first photo, there are the snaps, in the second the collar is snapped and folded and in the third there is the collar just hanging. I can't understand what the purpose of them is. One thing I did notice is that the fur trim down the middle of the coat is visible when the collar is snapped together but not when the collar is left loose.

 

[furwise]

I think Barbara would be able to date this particular coat better than I. I can confirm that she's right about the collar. It's ermine fur and does look too weak to be repaired.
Without being able to handle the coat I don't think I can fully figure out how the snaps are meant to pair up. I can only think that those snaps on the underside of the collar are intended to snap to the the collar and position of the coat in different ways.

 

[themerchantsofvintage]

Nice find. The label would be a great addition to our Label Resource as we don't have anything for HR from the 30s.

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

Looking at the last batch of photos, I am thinking that perhaps the coat could date to around 1929. You first photos are sideways, which distorts the shape and length. Seeing the collar after you snapped it "up", gives it a stand up effect that was popular in the very late 1920s to early 30s. Although the ermine is a much more early 1930s detail. In your first photos the coat looked full length / floor length, so again, 1930s. In the last batch of photos it looks shorter, mid calf length and more of a 1920s length for evening wear.

It is difficult to be sure, judging only from photos. Can you perhaps show us the sleeves (set away from the coat a bit) and shoulder/sleeve area? That might help narrow the date.

Is it a single button side and loop closure? If it is a black velvet covered button, that should be not too difficult to replace.