Help Dating Small Metal(?) Beaded Saks Fifth Avenue Handbag

[trappersdaughter]

Good afternoon! I am going through more of these purses and I love this little bag, but aside from knowing it was from Saks and made in France, I am not sure on the age. From the font and script style on the label, it looks like it would be 30's or 40's when compared to the label resource guide here. The beads feel like metal and the little bag is heavy, but I could not get any attraction with a magnet. The clasp appears to have marcasite. It is tarnished or worn as well, the underside of the clasp is gold in color like the frame.
From the appearance, the beads almost looks like it is tarnished - I wonder, can these be professionally cleaned!? Or maybe it is just worn/dirty, but judging from the interior and the condition of the stitching/beading, it did not get used much. I love this bag, might be my favorite of the bunch so far! Thanks so much for any information!!!

*And I will apologize in advance, I have a few more items I have been trying to date and have not had much luck on my own (but this forum and the info on this site overall is SO helpful!), so I will be posting some more! Trying to make the posts specific to type or designer instead of putting them all in one, for future reference/forum searching.

Front:

Side View, the beads in the pleat are more colorful, which makes me this the others are "tarnished"?:

Interior:

Close up of Font/Script:

 

[catseyevintage]

another beauty - probably 30s. Could the beads be glass?

 

[Circa Vintage Clothing]

I generally associate these styles with the '50s and '60s but yours is of exceptional quality. The lining with its printed label looks '50s too. I would expect a '30s version to have a small printed label, rather than printing on the lining.

These were generally made in Hong Kong but the fact that yours is French is also an indication of good quality. The spotless interior suggests it was hardly used, if at all. The outside, sadly is damaged. I've had a few like this and I suspect it comes from absorbing moisture. I've been unable to find a solution to cleaning the beads (I think it might be the fabric underneath as well as the beads) but as they're so closely packed you could try a damp cloth with a mild detergent and dry as well as you can. There's a risk that excess moisture will cause more damage.

I hope someone knows a way to clean these, but personally I think it's beautiful just as it is - you can't fake patina, it's proof of its age.

 

[The Vintage Merchant]

that sort of discoloration on beaded bags can be indicative of having been in a smoker's home, at some point in time.

 

[trappersdaughter]

Thanks for all the help! The beads are definitely metal - tiny, don't appear hand beaded. One side is more patina'd than the other (photo above is of the side with more patina), probably due to storage. I don't know if it is a result of smoking, but it was pretty darn cool to smoke back then - I think they even said it was good for you! I think all but one of the beaded bags in the lot has any loose beads, the previous owner took pretty good care of everything. The items were stored well, one leather bag had a spider sac on it, but otherwise no mold our mouse turds - but they do have a slight "old storage" smell to them.
I would love to get the bag cleaned, but not going to risk ruining it, so I won't be trying anything myself!!!

 

[Circa Vintage Clothing]

Thanks for the clarification on what the beads are made of: metal does suggest earlier - also if you have a personal collection and the others are from the '30s that suggests that this one is too, but I still think the printed label on the lining is unusual for the time.

Mary is right about the smoking: I haven't managed to get smoking stains out of purses, sadly. It's a terrible thing when it comes to vintage, the smell can be long lasting too.

 

[BonniesVintageClothesLine]

That Saks label does look 50s to me, too! Just gorgeous.....hope you can get it refurbished!

 

[vivavintageclothing]

Hi!

FWIW, your bag reminds me very much of a steel-beaded bag that I sold some time ago, that I had certainly assumed was from the 1950s (or at least, not significantly earlier), based on the style. It was VERY heavy for its size. The beads were all metallic colors only, not as colorful as yours, but untarnished. Its only label was "Made in France", with an ivory satin lining fabric, quite similar to what your bag has.