1960s Loewe Black Leather Handle Bag

This fine and rare handbag was designed by Spanish luxury fashion house Loewe in the 1960s. Loewe was established in Madrid in 1846 and specialised in leather goods almost exclusively for Spanish royalty and the aristocracy which helped establish its reputation for quality and craftsmanship. King Alfonso XIII and his wife, Queen Victoria Eugenie, frequently visited the store on Príncipe de Madrid street. In addition, Princess Grace of Monaco and celebrities like Ernest Hemingway, Sophia Loren, Rita Hayworth and Marlene Dietrich were among Loewe’s frequent customers.

In 1963 the brand opened a store in London; the iconic four 'Ls' motif was born in 1970 and this elegant leather top-handle bag can be dated to this period 1963 - 1969. We have included vintage 1960s photographs of the interiors of the flagship Loewe store in Serrano 26, Madrid, designed by internationally acclaimed architect Javier Carvajal which shows several similar bags from the period.

This boxy top handle bag is crafted from the finest smooth black leather. It has a rectangular shape and a fold-over flap closure. The clasp is a twist clasp and it is housed within a gold-toned metal plaque with a playful 'toothed' edge. There are two short black leather handles which attach onto the bag flap at the front with gold-tone metal buckles which also have a jagged edge. Inside, it has one compartment and four pockets, one that closes with a zip. The inside is stamped with “Loewe 1846” in metallic gold ink.

The bag is in very good to excellent vintage condition and has been taken very good care of by its previous owner. We were fortunate to buy this lady's entire collection of bags and shoes and she bought the best money could buy. On inspection, there is a tiny bit of wear to the gold plating around the twist clasp but it is hardly noticeable. The leather is in very fine condition with no discernible wear to the front. On the back there a handful of very tiny indentations which can only be seen in bright light, and a faint linear scratch about a little finger's width long. This is one of the finest 1960s bags we have ever had the pleasure of in Circa's collection; the fact it is around 60 years of age and in this barely used condition is remarkable.

MEASUREMENTS

LENGTH - 7 in. (18 cm)

WIDTH - 9.5 in. (24 cm)

DEPTH - 5 in. (13 cm)