20th Century Finds

TM

Our items come from family, shops that closed years ago (vintage old stock), and both public and private estate liquidations. Some are consigned to us. Handbags can be 20 to 100 years old or more. Some will naturally show age, patina or minor wear. We are known for selling vintage bags that are in great condition. Even so, before you make a purchase, please look at all of the pictures of the item.  If you have a question about a bag, or want to see if we have a bag in inventory that you are looking for, please ask. We enjoy chatting with customers and helping you make your next fabulous vintage selection.

Some Tips On Caring For Your Vintage Handbag
Do not wrap or store your handbag in plastic or plain paper. If your handbag came in a plastic bag, the bag was for shipping purposes only.
 Use acid-free paper or a fabric storage bag to cover and store your handbag when not in use to keep it from dust and light. Keep your bags out of direct sunlight and high heat.
 Try not to stack bags on top of each other. You can cause dents and dings that may seem minor, but they may be hard to get out once they set into the material of the bag.
 With patent leather and vinyl bags, be careful not to lean the bag on something with a sharp point or edge. And the same goes for something leaning on your bag. Permanent or hard-to-get-out creases may appear on the bag if something leans on it that is heavy or has a sharp edge or point.
 Treat the metal frames and components of your handbags just like jewelry. Remove dirt and any tarnish regularly. It is fine and good to use a jewelry cloth to polish the metal frame and parts of your bags. On gold-tone finishes, we do not recommend using any strong chrome or jewelry cleaners as it could remove the gold-tone finish, unless you want to remove that finish, which may reveal a silver-color metal underneath.
 Do not get your handbag wet. If you do, immediately and gently towel it off. Get a plastic bag or box large enough to put your bag into it. Pour white rice into the bag or box so there is at least an inch of rice or more, and gently lay your bag on top of the rice for a day. The rice will help pull out some of the moisture from the bag. Works great for wet mobile phones too.
 To keep patent leather and shiny vinyl in tip top shape, every six months clean and preserve the material by rubbing Vaseline over the entire bag. This also helps remove and diminish scuffs, and prevents and reduces creases on the sides of the bag where the material folds. Put a paper towel under the bag as you will want to cover the bottom exterior of the bag with petroleum jelly. Do not use regular hand lotion. That could ruin the bag. It needs to be petroleum jelly which you can get at any drug store or supermarket.
 Plan to use an old, soft and clean t-shirt to rub the petrolem jelly off the bag. What we recommend is letting it remain on the bag for a few hours or overnight if the material is really dry or scuffed.
 Next, wipe as much of the Vaseline off the bag as possible, buffing it in a circular motion but not too hard. You do not want to create scuffs on the bag. Do NOT use paper towels as they will scuff the material. It is okay if some residue remains. Leave it to rest for another day. The next day, lightly buff the bag again. By the third day, you will be amazed at how wonderful your bag looks. Make sure that through this process nothing is touching or leaning on the bag, and try not to lean the bag on anything.
 For leather, we recommend using a good leather preservative on your bag at least every 6 months. Good brands can be purchased at your local shoe repair service.
 For beaded bags, we recommend keeping them stored and away from dust when not in use.
 Try not to spill make-up or rub lipstick on the interior lining of beaded bags as often you can see such stains from the exterior of the bag. Make-up is hard to get out of fabrics. Usually the bag is ruined by such accidents.
 If you see beads start to loosen, get the needle and thread and fasten the beads closer to the bag so none fall off and get lost. If the beads were glued on, use a special craft adhesive for fabrics and beads that you can find at fabric and craft stores.
 To clean a beaded bag, we recommend using a delicate and natural enzyme cleaner that you dab lightly on the purse. First try the cleaner in a small spot that is less noticeable to ensure it will not leave any stains or watermarks.
 For rattan and woven bags, we recommend the same cleaning as for beaded bags. However, some can be cleaned by using the hand nozzle on your vacuum cleaner to remove dust that can hide in the nooks of the woven material.

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