This is an elegant handbag made in England by Cordée These cord handbags originated during the war years when fabrics were in short supply and manufacturers had to be a bit more inventive in their materials used.
The exterior of the handbags were made by winding cord into intricate patterns which were stitched into place on a fabric base. Some of these patterns were very intricate and quite exquisitely crafted. Although there were a number of manufacturers making cord bags one of the premier and most well known manufacturers was Cordé, which is now a very collectable brand.
This particular handbag is in very good condition in a rich milk chocolate brown, slightly darker than a mink colour, with a similar coloured silk lining. It is a simple, understated design and the cord itself is in very good condition with no wear to speak of, just a few marks to the exterior from use. It is particularly good for this colour of corde handbag as it tends to show marks and wear more than the more usual black or navy varieties which are more forgiving. The silk lining, however, is in less good condition as it has been used and there are marks from use, scuff marks and pen marks, these are less noticeable than they might be because of the shiny surface and texture of the silk lining. The lining has the Cordé label and slip pockets. The frame has an inset of corde which is intact and although there is some tarnish to the clasp it is not sufficient to detract from the appearance of the bag as a whole.
A very elegant and smart Corde handbag which we would say is externally in excellent condition but the lining only in good condition. It is in a fabulous colour and would be wonderful for weddings or other formal functions as it is a very 'smart' handbag whilst the lining would not be an issue as it would be full of the essentials thereby hiding any marks. In pristine condition these would be considerably more expensive so this is a good opportunity to buy a collectable bag and not have to be too precious about it.
It is 9" x 7" x 2"