mink, muskrat, russian squirrel, sable? i need fur help!

[doehearted]

so, i'm no expert at fur identifying in the least, but when i was at the thrift store today i grabbed this cape that had just been newly stocked even though i wasn't sure of the fur. as for dating, i'd guess that it could be 40's or early 50's with its style and is lined in such a pretty satin, which made me grab it. i did check the fur resource, but i also know that there were furs that were dyed to look like mink, so i'm hoping someone with expert fur skills could solve the mystery!

i tried to take as many photos as i could in my cramped dorm, but the lighting is awful so i apologize. let me know if you need any specific photos and i'll go back and snap more:

 

[furwise]

Hi there, I love styles like this and the lining is very pretty. It is mink dyed muskrat and I am going to date this one to the 50s. Capes like this were popular in the late 40s and into the 50s however 40s capes were a bit more dramatic and longer in the back than the front. Let me show you a few;

Here's one from 1954.

Here's one from 1949.

 

[doehearted]

ah, thank you so much. muskrat it is! wow, that cape from 1954 matches mine so well. those are wonderful resources!

 

[briez]

Hi there, I love styles like this and the lining is very pretty. It is mink dyed muskrat and I am going to date this one to the 50s. Capes like this were popular in the late 40s and into the 50s however 40s capes were a bit more dramatic and longer in the back than the front. Let me show you a few;

Here's one from 1954.
View attachment 59495

Here's one from 1949.
View attachment 59494

Do you mind if I ask where you found these old clippings? Is it a certain database you use?
Thanks so much

 

[furwise]

Sure Briez,
I use a variety of sources. Those were from newspapers.com. They allow you to visit old newspapers by entering matching keywords. Sometime local good searches help, and many of oour members here write about them who have studied in the ways I've shared with you. Once you get an understanding the tools are really quite easy to use.