Docride's Hermes Lazarus Thread (can this Hermes be Saved? )

[docride]

Hi Docride, I stumbled upon your threads today about leather care and treatments and am just amazed at your wealth of knowledge! I got this beautiful vintage black box Kelly and while there are no cracks on the leather, the overall bag looks very good, there’re these wrinkles on the side (as if the bag has been pressed down on this area if you know what I mean) - I attached some close up photos here. It looks worse on close up under strong direct lighting than it is in reality or when worn on the arm.

My question is: is there anything I can do to lessen the look of these wrinkles? Are they inevitable or is it because someone has actually mistreated this bag in the past which caused the wrinkles?

Thanks so much in advance!!!

Hi there,
Thank you, for your kind words. This bag looks like it has a very dry finish ( the finish is the tannery applied top coat of this leather )
It looks like this bag is dangerously dry how do the straps and sides of the bag look? May I see the Hermes Paris stamp? I’m checking condition and also to see if anyone has applied any color touch ups post Hermes sale.
I’ll check back . All the best ,doc

 

[tv_vt1809]

Hi there,
Thank you, for your kind words. This bag looks like it has a very dry finish ( the finish is the tannery applied top coat of this leather )
It looks like this bag is dangerously dry how do the straps and sides of the bag look? May I see the Hermes Paris stamp? I’m checking condition and also to see if anyone has applied any color touch ups post Hermes sale.
I’ll check back . All the best ,doc

Thanks for your quick response! Oh that worries me, what do you mean by “dangerously dry”? I took some more photos below. Would be grateful for your further comments

 

[docride]

Thanks for your quick response! Oh that worries me, what do you mean by “dangerously dry”? I took some more photos below. Would be grateful for your further comments

Hello again,
The finish / surface looks like it’s got fine cracks all over it do you see it in your photos that you’ve posted ? So my first questions are
How are the handle bases ? And the handle ? Any cracks or tears?
Standing by , doc

 

[tv_vt1809]

Hello again,
The finish / surface looks like it’s got fine cracks all over it do you see it in your photos that you’ve posted ? So my first questions are
How are the handle bases ? And the handle ? Any cracks or tears?
Standing by , doc

Here are some pics of the handle, no cracks or tears as far as I can tell.

 

[docride]

Here are some pics of the handle, no cracks or tears as far as I can tell.

Ok this is the handle base attachment area check there for tears
The handle has fine cracks to my eyes
And yes this bag is dangerously dry
I’m worried about the condition of this bag

Here this is a different leather but still you can not see lines like you do on that box calf Kelly
I’m not trying to upset you I’m truly trying to help
With a few more photos I can tell you where this bag is a restoration candidate or not .
Standing by , doc

 

[tv_vt1809]

View attachment 4014856
Ok this is the handle base attachment area check there for tears
The handle has fine cracks to my eyes
And yes this bag is dangerously dry
I’m worried about the condition of this bag
View attachment 4014857
Here this is a different leather but still you can not see lines like you do on that box calf Kelly
I’m not trying to upset you I’m truly trying to help
With a few more photos I can tell you where this bag is a restoration candidate or not .
Standing by , doc

Sorry I’m definitely not an expert, i just thought those are small wrinkles on the leather, didn’t know they were cracks! Here are the pictures, I tried my best to zoom in and focus on the areas:

 

[tv_vt1809]

View attachment 4014856
Ok this is the handle base attachment area check there for tears
The handle has fine cracks to my eyes
And yes this bag is dangerously dry
I’m worried about the condition of this bag
View attachment 4014857
Here this is a different leather but still you can not see lines like you do on that box calf Kelly
I’m not trying to upset you I’m truly trying to help
With a few more photos I can tell you where this bag is a restoration candidate or not .
Standing by , doc

Thanks so much for all your help, doc! After speaking with you I feel a lot better! Will let you know how it goes with the bag

 

[docride]

Thanks so much for all your help, doc! After speaking with you I feel a lot better! Will let you know how it goes with the bag

Excellent ! Get conditioning and let me know how it’s coming along
Very best of luck to you and your bag
Doc

 

[belhomme]

Hello again ,
Don’t despair now you’ll have an eye for what’s going to improve
The key thing is to make sure the bag isn’t cracking or shrunken from periods of extended dryness . Check stitching look at the stitch holes if you see tiny white lines it might be a sign of shrinkage and dryness.
I’ll try and show an example
Another key place to look is inside the bag is the lining warped or pulling away ?
Do the folds and bends have stress lines and or fine cracks ?
Is the finished surface smooth or looks like a very tiny cracks or raised bumps ?
So many things to look for besides a few light surface scratches which in box calf in a dark leather will usually look a lot better after spa
I hope this helps
All the best and happy hunting
Your bag is out there!
Doc

Thanks, doc! I will ask myself those three questions when I find another bag that fits my wish list! Thank you so much for your reply!

 

[docride]

Thanks, doc! I will ask myself those three questions when I find another bag that fits my wish list! Thank you so much for your reply!

Good luck

 

[lovely2008]

Hi Docride, can you tell what leather this bag is?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HERMES-Hau...744631?hash=item3b09a2f3b7:g:o-cAAOSwCmRa1BeY

Listing said it's veau gulliver. Can corners be touch up with tarrago dye? On the 8th pic, is that a tear, crack, or scratch? Thanks for your help!

 

[docride]

Hi Docride, can you tell what leather this bag is?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HERMES-Hau...744631?hash=item3b09a2f3b7:g:o-cAAOSwCmRa1BeY

Listing said it's veau gulliver. Can corners be touch up with tarrago dye? On the 8th pic, is that a tear, crack, or scratch? Thanks for your help!

Hello there

The corners wear could be covered with color touch up sure.
The back of the sangles/strap looks like it could be a crack or the beginning of one
It could be gulliver in some pictures it looks like it could be but I’m in my phone looking and the photos aren’t that clear. I’ll check on a larger screen.
All the best doc

 

[lovely2008]

Hello there

The corners wear could be covered with color touch up sure.
The back of the sangles/strap looks like it could be a crack or the beginning of one
It could be gulliver in some pictures it looks like it could be but I’m in my phone looking and the photos aren’t that clear. I’ll check on a larger screen.
All the best doc

if it's a crack, does it means bag is too dry & can't be saved?
bag is from 2011, can that leather get that dry so early? thanks!

 

[docride]

if it's a crack, does it means bag is too dry & can't be saved?
bag is from 2011, can that leather get that dry so early? thanks!

Hi again ,
Can a bag get dry in 7 years ? Sure it can get dried out in much less depending upon the leather type and the conditions it encounters.
If a crack is present on the rear of the strap but the front leather piece is in tact I would just condition the whole bag well and take care with handling the strap maybe not let the straps hand in a twisted fashion ?
Straps are usually replaceable eventually anyhow. I think it’s a cool bag and the price seems pretty reasonable. You won’t kniw actual condition until you see it. Did you ask the seller if that’s a crack for certain ? Does the seller have a return policy ?
Those are the questions I’d be asking
Good luck doc

 

[lovely2008]

if it's a crack, does it means bag is too dry & can't be saved? thanks!

Hi again ,
Can a bag get dry in 7 years ? Sure it can get dried out in much less depending upon the leather type and the conditions it encounters.
If a crack is present on the rear of the strap but the front leather piece is in tact I would just condition the whole bag well and take care with handling the strap maybe not let the straps hand in a twisted fashion ?
Straps are usually replaceable eventually anyhow. I think it’s a cool bag and the price seems pretty reasonable. You won’t kniw actual condition until you see it. Did you ask the seller if that’s a crack for certain ? Does the seller have a return policy ?
Those are the questions I’d be asking
Good luck doc

yes, seller said "it's a crack and peeling." they do have return policy. I guess i will give it some thought... thanks so much for your help!