1910s-1920s Sheepskin Aviators/Motoring Overcoat

Another remarkable piece from the Kurtz Archive that has now been passed to another British vintage archive.

This amazing overcoat dates to the ‘teens or 1920s, and is made of sheep hide lined with heavy wool. Very similar to WWI era jackets favoured by aviators of the Royal Flying Corps, though this one has no chest map pocket. On balance, probably designed and marketed as a motoring jacket. This one’s seen some life!

I love the patina. I really liked the “storm cuffs” and the arm liner material is gloriously typical of its age.

Henry Cotton’s 1938 Silk Velvet Tuxedo

An amazing midnight blue silk velvet tuxedo with grosgrain lapels from the Kurtz Vintage Archive. No longer in the archive.

This was made in London’s West End for the British golfer Henry Cotton in early 1938, after his second Open Championship in 1937. The suit is made of spectacular heavy silk velvet, with robust grosgrain lapels. The trousers at some point were altered with a nylon zipper added in place of fly buttons. it would originally have had four buttons on the front, to fasten one, but the two upper buttons have sadly been removed.

Truly an astonishing piece.