Dating help on this snakeskin bag?

[retro ruth]

Hi all

This bag/purse has me completely stumped as to date. At first glance by shape and size I would think it was 70s or something like that, but the fastenings seem much older. Excuse the quantity of huge pics, but the details are presumably the best clues.

It's real snake (presumably dyed!)

No labels anywhere.

It measures 13 x 9 inches.

Has a removable strap that attaches with poppers, the 'male' side of the poppers have a sunburst design that's quite Deco. The female side says M M KANE.

Metal zips. The top zip has a little tag and chain puller, that says AERO on one side and GREAT BRITAIN on the other. The inner zip says GEM on the puller. They have brass or brass-coloured teeth.

It's beautifully finished inside, seems to be suede, with the pinked green snake edge around the pockets, and inside the pockets lined with a silky brown material.

Any ideas?

Thanks all,

Ruth

 

[purrfectvintage1]

Can't help but totally gorg bag.........being thick now but how do you tell real skin from faux skin if it isn't marked/tagged? do the little skin bits peel off individually from real? thicky alert LOL!! sharon xx

 

[listitcafe]

I would date it 40's from the zipper and the color. Anyway two snaps up on bag. SOmeone will quickly grab this one up!
-Chris

 

[retro ruth]

@sharon: I can tell now I've seen a few real snakeskin things, by the feel and texture. It's hard to describe exactly how I know, perhaps someone else can explain it better, but snake tends to have a rustley papery quality when you run your fingers across it. Also the way the individual scales look.

@chris: I don't think I'm letting go of this one just yet! I just wanted to know what I had.

 

[purrfectvintage1]

Hi Goldenage,

I do have a few that I am sure are real snake, one in particular is quiet peely as in some of the scales seem to be peeling at the edges slightly. I should get them out and have a proper look at them but I don't know anyone local who can help me learn and I.D things so it is whatever I have taught myself and from books/internet etc.

Thanks for the advice though really appreciated.
Sharon xx

 

[poppysvintageclothing]

I assume the longer strap that we can't fully see is a shoulder strap, correct? I would date this one to the 70s.

 

[vertugarde]

This is pretty modern. Either 70's or 80's not 1940's. The Great Britain stamp is later. That oval shaped handle is typical of purses from that period and snakeskin and lizard real and fake was really popular. I'd give Aero a call and check when they started manufacturing zips/zippers. They are located in Wales

http://www.aerozip.co.uk/

 

[Linn]

My reaction to dating this is '70's or 80's, also - not '40's.

Linn

 

[cmpollack]

The shape/style of the bag and interior construction say 70s/80s to me as well.

I love that shade of emerald green snakeskin! One of my fave estate sale finds last year was an 80s purse in that color.

 

[MyVintageCocktail]

Very nice bag, and I agree with late 70s or 80s. Snakeskin was very popular then, and what appears to be that skinny shoulder strap was everywhere once the disco age hit.

 

[retro ruth]

Thanks everyone. Yes it is a shoulder strap. 70s/80s disco makes sense. It was the metal zips that had me confused. R

 

[trellandjesus]

It looks late 70s or 80s.

 

[BagDiva]

this deffo a very early 70's bag, shape, styling, pinking edges,