There’s a lot of QBO weasels in today’s email. Whether you feel that fur is barbaric, or that hunting is natural, it’s important to note that each fur item here was treasured, and costly.
This 3/4 length mink coat is 35 – 40 pelts. American Minks are in the mustelid (weasel) family, weighing 1 – 3.5 lbs. Semiaquatic predators native to colder regions of North America, they are invasive in South America, Europe and Asia and are widely bred for their pelts. Mink coats reached their apex with American women in the 1940s & 50s. Shockingly spendy, a mink was the one gift a man could give a woman short of a diamond that let her know he adored her (or something). And unlike an engagement ring, a mink had no such connotations, making it a handy gift for a mistress (sigh), or (better), an anniversary gift for the wife. And they do keep you toasty! Most have thin insulation, pockets, silk-covered fastenings and satin linings. In summer an owner might pay to store her fur moth-free, temperature and humidity controlled, a service fine dry cleaners still offer. It’s no co-incidence that in the 1945 romantic comedy “Christmas in Connecticut”, Barbara Stanwyck, independent single journalist, buys herself a mink, showing she doesn’t need a man to do it for her. (Of course she meets a cheerful, down-on-his-luck war hero and romance ensues!) If a woman couldn’t afford a coat, she could still buy herself mink a stole or hat. And (a plus for the furrier) hats used up small pieces, no waste.
This detachable collar is made from 5 of the fanciest weasels ever; the Stoat, I mean Ermine. Stoats are tiny, ferocious predators. Only 6 – 9 oz, they take prey much larger than themselves. They are plentiful in Eurasia and northern North America. Not bred commercially, they wouldn’t be of interest to trappers either but for a fluke of coloring. In summer, the humble ‘stoat’ is brown, but in winter they become stunning ‘ermines’ – white with a dramatic black-tipped tail; those are the black markings on this collar. European royalty such as Gustav III, King of Sweden here projected their semi-divine status with ermine-trimmed robes. Ermine is also valued by local Northwest Coast tribes, who trim ceremonial regalia with the distinctive ‘punctuated’ furs.
This Native American Sacred Bundle is likely American Pine Martin, an omnivorous predator weighing 1 – 3.5 lbs.. They are broadly distributed across Canada, Alaska, and northern North America, however the Coastal Marten was listed as ‘threatened’ in 2020 and cannot be hunted. A Medicine or Sacred Bundle holds items of spiritual and cultural importance to its owner and is highly personal and private. Because their use is wide-spread across many tribes, it’s difficult to pinpoint an origin, but this one may be Lakota. It can be roughly dated to no earlier than the late 1960s by the Ghungroo cast brass bells. Made in India, they are used on anklets in Kathak Bharatnatayam classical dance and were first imported here during the Hippy movement.
QBO fans of vintage fashion can enjoy wearing these older furs free of the modern fur trade, while damaged furs can be repurposed as theater costumes, barbarian cosplay accessories, even extra-warm cat beds. Today’s fashion industry produces many gorgeous, cruelty-free synthetic furs, but there are still a few applications which need the real thing. Because synthetic cannot hold body heat as well, sub-zero rated Arctic jackets must still be insulated around the face and wrist openings with real fur. And, the highest quality of professional fine art brushes are made of farm-bred Russian Sable, yet another species of weasel. So many weasels!
Tuesday Treasures was started by our staff member, Jeanne Lusignan. Each week she will be featuring items that have been found at our estate sales. If you would like to submit a treasure for Jeanne to feature in a future installment of “Tuesday’s Treasures”, please follow the button below and send us an email! Please attach a few photos of your treasure in a beautiful setting as well as any details you have about your item such as manufacturer, use, age, region of origin. If you don’t know about the piece, that’s okay! We still might be able to research it for you! Don’t forget to tell us what makes this item such a treasure to you!