ANNE KLEIN for Calderon late 1970s vintage large patent leather enelope bag

Anne Klein collab with Calderon Leather began mid 70s. This stunning, historic piece is most likely from mid to late 70s. With only very fine swirls or small dents from storage throughout the years, this bag has emerged in 2024 as if it was just off the shelf. Cleaned and conditioned using professional quality leather supplies, the purse has returned to supple flexibility and has a new-bag feel to it. It seems to have been rarely used, with no stains or dirt in the interior. Zipper works flawlessly and the iconic AK Lion zipper pull shines as bright as it did on day one. The corners are crisp and bright with zero loss of shine or rub. The edges on the strap are perfect. There are no loose threads. I hesitate to price this bag competitively. I feel it is museum quality. The Metropolitan Museum of Art (metmuseum dot org) has pages on their collections from Calderon and Anne Klein. I am going to avoid pricing it with the AK soft, slouchy 1980s bags listed here and see if there is anyone out there that can truly appreciate this iconic bag the way I do. I think this is a collector's piece that someone who thoroughly loves art, form, and fashion history would love to own.