Hello to everyone. I am new here and already loved the site. I have ordered a vintage fur from eBay but the seller could not provide any information to date the item. And also do you think it is a mink? That's my guess. Any information would be interesting.
Help dating a fur
- Thread starter Eleni
- Start date
Thank you. I thought it was quite older. Could you please provide some specific characteristics that helped you understand? Do you know anything about the brand? According to my research the factory closed down in 1994 but apart from that I didn't manage to find any information on their fame or quality of furs. Could that be an expensive fur?
You are most welcome. I am more than happy to do my best to explain. Some features have been seen in more than one era but if you combine all the features shown in one coat it sometimes helps to narrow it down. The shape of this coat, the collar with the pom pom button at the neckline, the sleeves, the way the sleeves are set in at the shoulders, the sleeve length, and the bemberg satin lining helped me date this coat to the early 80s.
As far as the brand goes, I know Thomas E. McElroy furs went into business in 1928. They are still in business today but their original location closed in 1994. They are a reputable furrier and they ave offered many wonderful fur garments throughout time.
As far as the brand goes, I know Thomas E. McElroy furs went into business in 1928. They are still in business today but their original location closed in 1994. They are a reputable furrier and they ave offered many wonderful fur garments throughout time.
I think perhaps if you could photograph it on a mannequin or a person, it would give us a better look to determine dating.
I am not disagreeing with Caryn, as I am not an authority on fur, I just think it would be easier to id.
I am not disagreeing with Caryn, as I am not an authority on fur, I just think it would be easier to id.
Lauren, I am not sure if it's a light beige or a dark beige but I find that when I take photos of lighter colors I have to tone down my lighting to preventing washing out the color. On darker furs I have to make sure my lighting is bright enough to show the fur but not too bright or it will change the color as well.
Mary Jane is right. Seeing a fur on a person or on a mannequin can definitely sometimes make a difference. You can see better how the shape lays when being worn; whether it's loose throughout, is fitted in the waist area, or continues to widen as it goes down having a nice sweep at the bottom. You can also see the shoulders better on a person and how the sleeves really look when worn. I personally just recognize styles on a model or off a model because I look at furs all day long everyday.
From looking at the fur in your photos the body of the coat looks loose throughout, the shoulders have shoulder seams, the sleeves look straight and appear to be full length, and the lining looks like Bemberg Satin which were all features seen in the early 80s. If you share how old you thought it was I can tell you specifically some of the differences between furs during those time periods.
Mary Jane is right. Seeing a fur on a person or on a mannequin can definitely sometimes make a difference. You can see better how the shape lays when being worn; whether it's loose throughout, is fitted in the waist area, or continues to widen as it goes down having a nice sweep at the bottom. You can also see the shoulders better on a person and how the sleeves really look when worn. I personally just recognize styles on a model or off a model because I look at furs all day long everyday.
From looking at the fur in your photos the body of the coat looks loose throughout, the shoulders have shoulder seams, the sleeves look straight and appear to be full length, and the lining looks like Bemberg Satin which were all features seen in the early 80s. If you share how old you thought it was I can tell you specifically some of the differences between furs during those time periods.
Caryn, and everybody here, seem to know so many things that my thoughts about the age of the fur are just for laughs. I just love the vintage idea and the recycling of stories and emotions behind an item. I have nothing to do with the business so any question is to feed my curiosity. Now, about the fur, some friends told me it looks like 50 s that s why I thought it was older. What about the type of fur? Do you all agree on mink? I am expecting the fur to arrive in 2 weeks from now, so I cannot provide any real photos until then, nor any personal remarks. I bought it around 80 euros. Do you think it's a good deal? ( I might have to mention that there is an interior lining seam that has to be sewn.)
Hello again, The coat you have shown does indeed look like Mink fur. If it just needs a small amount of basic stitching at a lining seam and has no other damage it looks like a nice coat. We're unable to discuss value here though. Sorry about that. Let me show you a few examples of some 50s fur coats though so you can possibly see some of the differences.
This photo shows some faux furs from 1957.
Notice the features of the striped fur. Rounded collar,
wide turned back cuffs, squared shoulders,
shorter sleeves, fitted top flaring out to a swing
style at the bottom.
Next is a Mink coat from 1953. No shoulder
seams, shorter sleeves, wide turn back cuffs,
fitted top, flared out swing style bottom.
Next; 1950s wool and Lynx fur jacket with silk satin lining.
If your coat was from the 1950s I would expect to see a more defined collar, shorter sleeves that were either fitted or had wide cuffs, a more fitted body style on top with a large swing style bottom, and a silk satin lining.
Going into the 60s sleeves were still short, they even got shorter, then in the 70s there were a lot of princess style and belted coats that were fitted at the waist, and then by the later 70s coats had straight sleeves that were longer with looser body styles throughout. That style went into the early 80s when furriers more commonly used Bemberg satin to line their coat which came from rayon yarn rather than natural silk satin.
The coat posted in your photos can date within a few years either way of 1980 somewhere between 1977-1982. That is when the style from what I see fits best. After 1982 coats featured big shoulder pads and elaborate styles that I don't see in the coat.
This photo shows some faux furs from 1957.
Notice the features of the striped fur. Rounded collar,
wide turned back cuffs, squared shoulders,
shorter sleeves, fitted top flaring out to a swing
style at the bottom.
Next is a Mink coat from 1953. No shoulder
seams, shorter sleeves, wide turn back cuffs,
fitted top, flared out swing style bottom.
Next; 1950s wool and Lynx fur jacket with silk satin lining.
If your coat was from the 1950s I would expect to see a more defined collar, shorter sleeves that were either fitted or had wide cuffs, a more fitted body style on top with a large swing style bottom, and a silk satin lining.
Going into the 60s sleeves were still short, they even got shorter, then in the 70s there were a lot of princess style and belted coats that were fitted at the waist, and then by the later 70s coats had straight sleeves that were longer with looser body styles throughout. That style went into the early 80s when furriers more commonly used Bemberg satin to line their coat which came from rayon yarn rather than natural silk satin.
The coat posted in your photos can date within a few years either way of 1980 somewhere between 1977-1982. That is when the style from what I see fits best. After 1982 coats featured big shoulder pads and elaborate styles that I don't see in the coat.