Dating red lizard skin "Hollywood Handbag"

[SleepingBeauty]

Hello there!

Does anyone have any idea as to the era in which this was made? (This total newbie is gonna give it a whirl and say very late 60's....?)

The tag inside says "made by Hollywood Handbags, gen. Lizard skin"

Has anyone heard of this brand?

It measures 7.5" x 10.5".

I am guessing the lining is leather too...it seems like it. The latch is not magnetic, it clips together when the latch is pulled down slightly.

Ps, This bag was bought in Australia, so it isn't necessarily from Hollywood, but I'm sure you're onto that.

The handle is unfortunately in quite bad condition.

Thanks so much!

 

[Pinkcoke]

I'm not knowledgeable on handbags, but I can attest that that latch shape is very similar to the decoration found on mid-late 1960's shoes, which would tie in with your guess. I would guess it was probably made to match a pair of lizard skin shoes. The size and handle length also seems good for 60s. Its an early sort of that clasp as well.

Can you show the interior zip?

 

[SleepingBeauty]

The zipper reads "rondo" and I have found that the Cucksons family business manufactured them in Sydney NSW, during the 1950's. Never thought I would be researching zippers!

 

[lkranieri]

HERE is a bit of information about Hollywood Handbags.

 

[SleepingBeauty]

Thank you both so much for your replies! And wow Lynne, although only a small bit of information, interesting all the same. The back part of the dust bag has a tear in it ( please see photo attached) seeing as this bag is for personal use, do you recommend that i try to mend it to prevent further damage or should I just leave it? In fact on closer inspection it looks like someone has already hand sewn the seam up previously.

Thanks

 

[Pinkcoke]

The dust bag helps to preserve the bag itself, but it's not necessarily original - those tears suggest the fabric itself is failing and it is likely to go again in another place. Sewing them up would probably cause more tearing. Personally I would make a new one, using that as a template (deconstruct, trace round, sew new one up same way) but if you're not up for that you could use an iron on repair tape on the back/inside of the tears, lining the fabric up neatly on your ironing board first so there are no gaps.

 

[JWelch]

Hello there!

Does anyone have any idea as to the era in which this was made? (This total newbie is gonna give it a whirl and say very late 60's....?)

The tag inside says "made by Hollywood Handbags, gen. Lizard skin"

Has anyone heard of this brand?

It measures 7.5" x 10.5".

I am guessing the lining is leather too...it seems like it. The latch is not magnetic, it clips together when the latch is pulled down slightly.

Ps, This bag was bought in Australia, so it isn't necessarily from Hollywood, but I'm sure you're onto that.

The handle is unfortunately in quite bad condition.

Thanks so much!

I remember visiting the Hollywood Handbag factory and meeting the owners.
Mr and Mrs Schneller, really interesting and inspiring couple. I know he was a holocaust survivor.
The factory was an upper level floor in a building in Surry Hills (somewhere in the block behind the YWCA).
So the bag was made in Sydney, I think they did do a lot of retro styles and they used a lot of reptile, ostrich etc.
can't give you anymore than that but I would guess you have a late 80's to early 90's bag there.

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

I get a 70s feel for this bag. It would be very helpful to see the handle, the entire bag with the handle showing as I think that will be a good clue on narrowing down the date.

JWelch, what a great bit of background on the company.

 

[Peter Thomas Sarlos]

Hollywood Handbags was started by George Sarlos (1912 - 1978) in 1950 in a garage in Roseville NSW Australia. In 1951 it moved to a 1st floor studio in Oxford Street, Taylor Squ are on the edge of the Sydney CBD. In about 1953 George Scheller joined George Sarlos as business manager. In about 1960 they bought a 2 storey industrial building in Alberta Street, Sydney from which the factory operated until it ceased activities in the 1980's.

Between 1953 and 1970 Hollywood Handbags produced quality handbags that were given as State Gifts by both the NSW and the Australian Governments. HH bags have been gifted to HRH Queen Elizabeth II; HRH Princess Margaret; The Empress of Japan; The Queen of Siam and many others that I cannot remember. The bags were popular amongst Australian dynasty families and high end shoppers. To the best of my recollection the HH bags were sold during the late 1950's and early 1960's at prices ranging from Au£200 to over Au£1500 (in today's prices who Knows).

Every bag was hand made animal and reptile skins tanned, in some cases to order, by tanners in France, Italy and Australia. Most bag frames came from Europe with some from the USA. George Sarlos traveled around the world every year to select the frames and leather. He designed, cut the patterns, put together the prototypes and led a small and dedicated team of trades persons (trained by him) for over 20 years.

George Sneller manged the business, promotions and distribution.

I have built a small collection of bags built up over the last 15 years and will pass them on to my children after me.

Peter Sarlos
Stanwell Park
NSW Australia

 

[Circa Vintage Clothing]

Great information, Peter. Thank you for your contribution.

 

[Teresa Hart]

Hollywood Handbags was started by George Sarlos (1912 - 1978) in 1950 in a garage in Roseville NSW Australia. In 1951 it moved to a 1st floor studio in Oxford Street, Taylor Squ are on the edge of the Sydney CBD. In about 1953 George Scheller joined George Sarlos as business manager. In about 1960 they bought a 2 storey industrial building in Alberta Street, Sydney from which the factory operated until it ceased activities in the 1980's.

Between 1953 and 1970 Hollywood Handbags produced quality handbags that were given as State Gifts by both the NSW and the Australian Governments. HH bags have been gifted to HRH Queen Elizabeth II; HRH Princess Margaret; The Empress of Japan; The Queen of Siam and many others that I cannot remember. The bags were popular amongst Australian dynasty families and high end shoppers. To the best of my recollection the HH bags were sold during the late 1950's and early 1960's at prices ranging from Au£200 to over Au£1500 (in today's prices who Knows).

Every bag was hand made animal and reptile skins tanned, in some cases to order, by tanners in France, Italy and Australia. Most bag frames came from Europe with some from the USA. George Sarlos traveled around the world every year to select the frames and leather. He designed, cut the patterns, put together the prototypes and led a small and dedicated team of trades persons (trained by him) for over 20 years.

George Sneller manged the business, promotions and distribution.

I have built a small collection of bags built up over the last 15 years and will pass them on to my children after me.

Peter Sarlos
Stanwell Park
NSW Australia

 

[Teresa Hart]

Dear Peter thank you for your informative post. I have just acquired a Hollywood Handbag and was researching it and came across your post. I am so excited to now own one of your family’s pieces!! It is cream lizard and in excellent condition.