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Vintage 1950s Birks Calfskin Leather Handbag – Metallic Charcoal Grey
$120.00
This is an elegant vintage women's calfskin leather handbag retailed by Birks, Canada's prestigious jewellery and luxury goods retailer, dating to the late 1950s or possibly early 1960s. The handbag is fashioned from smooth, fine-quality calfskin leather in an unusual dark charcoal grey colour with a subtle metallic sheen.
Founded in Montreal in 1879, Henry Birks & Sons became one of Canada's foremost jewellers and silversmiths, often referred to as the "Tiffany of the North." During the 1950s and 1960s, Birks also offered a selection of luxury leather goods, including fine handbags, many imported from Britain and France.
This handbag has a structured, rectangular shape with rounded corners, a fold-over flap and a distinctive pewter-tone metal clasp. The clasp features a circular upper plate decorated with concentric rings and four raised studs, connected by a hinge to a rectangular turn fastening below. The unusual hardware provides an attractive decorative accent to the otherwise understated design.
The handbag has two long, slender leather handles, each secured to the body with stitched leather tabs. The side gussets have a gently tapered, triangular shape, widening towards the base, while the underside is fitted with four small brass-tone protective feet.
The interior is finished in black and features a spacious central compartment with a slip pocket along either side. One of these pockets incorporates a zippered compartment with a small metal pull. The interior is neatly finished with contrasting light-coloured piping along the pocket edges.
The name BIRKS is stamped in gold lettering inside the handbag. There are no other manufacturer's markings or country-of-origin labels.
Measurements:
Width: 11" across
Height: 9", excluding handles
Depth: 4", measured at the underside
Handle drop: 5"
Condition: This vintage Birks handbag is in very good condition, with a couple of small surface scuffs and a tiny surface pick to the leather on one handle. The metal clasp shows some surface wear and patination, as visible in the photographs.
This is a beautifully constructed vintage handbag with an unusual charcoal grey finish, distinctive hardware and the added appeal of the Birks name. Its classic structured design is characteristic of the elegant leather accessories of the late 1950s and early 1960s.