Help dating fur stole

[mgundrill]

Hi,

Today I bought a fur stole from a market in Melbourne, Australia. I'm wondering if anyone can help with an estimated date when the stole would have been made. Unfortunately there is no label on the garment.

The silky lining is hand sewn to the outside of the stole.

The fur is very fine and soft to touch (it looks like rabbit fur). The pelt is beige to an almost pinky colour.

The stole has a hook and eye clasp at the front.

Thanks,

Melissa

 

[Circa Vintage Clothing]

Hi Melissa,

It looks more like a capelet than a stole - a stole is like a long piece, that you drape around your shoulders.

I agree that it's likely to be rabbit but you can see the pelts are long and slim, suggesting a smaller creature. Have you seen the Fur Resource? Try comparing the look and feel with some of the furs included.

As with the other piece, it will help if you photograph it whilst being worn, so we can see the silhouette. I generally associate fur capelets with '30s and '40s but I think yours might be '50s.

Did you find these pieces at Camberwell?

 

[mgundrill]

Ahhhh, yes - caplet is a much better description. You can tell that I'm new to this game! Yep, I did pick these pieces up at the Camberwell market. I struck gold with this one!

 

[Circa Vintage Clothing]

Wonderful: it makes all the difference when you can see it on - those shoulders are unmistakable. 1940s.

Camberwell is, I think, the best market in Australia. I haven't been there for ages (no time off) but it never disappoints.

 

[mgundrill]

You are not wrong! I can't believe how lucky I was this morning. I paid $20 for it!!! Unbelievable that it is 70+ years old.

Thank you so much giving me your insight - you have made my day

 

[furwise]

I agree with 40s on this because of the shoulders and the silk lining used. I think earlier 40s though due to the length. Capelet is correct but some might also search for items like this using the word cape.
The close up of the guardhairs as well as the downy underfur do look like rabbit and your description of the texture sounds like it too. The fur has been dyed in an attempt to make the pelts look like the size of Mink pelts. It is a mirage though and I think the pelts are probably larger than they seem.