Vintage 1950s BELLESTONE Black Lizard Top-handle Structured Purse w/ Red Lining

Description: Vintage 1950s BELLESTONE Black Lizard Top-handle Structured Purse with Red Leather Lining & Gilt Hardware This classic vintage squarish Bellestone gilt-metal frame handbag with a spring-loaded latch from the 1950s is made of premium, exquisitely preserved, high-gloss black lizard skin and has a short single-handle black lizard strap. The interior is lined with bright red leather and has two slot pockets, one on each side. The manufacturer’s logo is stamped faintly on the inside lining. There are four gilt studs on the bottom of the purse to mitigate scuffing of the reptile (monitor lizard?) skin. Bellestone was a top-shelf American brand of the 1950s and 1960s, now known chiefly among collectors of vintage purses, that manufactured and marketed luxury handbags featuring couture styling, gleaming frames, swank leather linings, and exotic skins with high-gloss glazing to the well heeled. Though the company—Bellestone Bags Inc.—was based in New York City, a good number of their more upscale bags were made in Belgium and imported back into the US where they were sold in high end boutiques and department stores complete with a line of branded accessories tucked inside (think makeup mirror, coin purse, and faux tortoise comb). This previously owned item is in very good/excellent condition outwardly in terms of how well preserved the lizard skin appears and feels, with virtually no signs of damage to the hide. While the hardware has lost some of its gilding, it still polishes up nicely. The hinges and spring-loaded latch work properly, allowing the handbag to open smoothly and snap closed tightly. There are several repairs (for which see accompanying photos) likely to both extend the life and augment the value of this bag considerably that warrant pursuing, in ascending order of cost and complexity:there is an approx. 2-1/2 in. section where the outer side seam attached to one of the hinges is in need of restitching and regluing. the once curved armature or tubing embedded inside the strap appears fractured and merits replacement. the lining shows the frankest signs of age, inferably from the leather progressively drying out over the years, especially around the hinges where repeated stretching and pleating have taken a toll on its integrity. A consultation with a professional specializing in leather handbag repair would clarify the relative benefits, and limitations, of mending/restoring the existing lining vs. having the purse relined. (Cannibalizing the lining of another Bellestone handbag of similar dimensions might be one way to constrain repair costs here.) Purse dimensions: 11 in. (wide) x 9 in. (tall, not including strap) x 4 in. (deep, at the base) Strap drop: 6 in. Item will be shipped via USPS Priority Mail.

Price: 45 USD

Location: San Francisco, California

End Time: 2024-09-02T07:31:14.000Z

Shipping Cost: 12 USD