Description

Brand: Chanel Material: Caviar Leather Exterior Colour: Yellow Hardware: Gold-Tone Closure: CC Turn-Lock Dimensions: 14.5" W x 18" H x 3.5" D (approx.) Strap Drop: 10" (approx.) Interior: Beige grosgrain lining with zippered pocket Date Code: 96.4.26 C.S (April 1996) Serial Number: 4095681 Made In: Italy Inclusions: Luggage tag with CHANEL logo Crafted in 1996 during the Karl Lagerfeld era, this oversized Chanel shoulder bag exemplifies the house's mastery of caviar leather—a richly textured, grained calfskin prized for its resilience and tactile appeal. The diamond-quilted exterior, rendered in a vibrant yellow hue, frames the signature interlocking-CC turn-lock in gold-tone hardware, while dual top handles and generous proportions offer both versatility and presence. The beige grosgrain interior features a zippered compartment and remains faithful to Chanel's atelier standards of the 1990s, a period now recognized as a golden age of the brand's accessory design. Notes from the Curator Struck from a single, stable variety of caviar calfskin before 2000, this April 1996 oversized tote represents Chanel's deliberate outreach to supermodels and on-the-go professionals during Karl Lagerfeld's peak 1990s output. The vibrant yellow hue—far less common than the house's signature black or navy—signals the maison's willingness to introduce saturated seasonal colours alongside its core palette, while the gold-tone hardware echoes the 24-karat plating that characterized Chanel's 1980s and 1990s production. Beige grosgrain interior lining and the Italian-crafted construction mark this as mid-decade work, when the brand split manufacturing between France and its atelier partners in Italy. Collectors now regard bags from the 1980s and 1990s as the most sought-after vintage Chanel pieces, with bold-coloured caviar examples offering rarity without sacrificing the tactile appeal or architectural integrity that made the leather a mainstay of the house's permanent collection.

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Bidding Details

• Starting Bid: $10
• Buyer's Premium: 20%
• Auction End Date: