Identification
Photo reference
2 uploaded photos
Overview
The presence of the clear 'Olds & King PORTLAND OREGON' label provides a firm dating constraint. Olds & King was a prominent historic department store that operated under this name until 1960, meaning this piece definitively pre-dates that year.
Story
Olds & King was a prominent historic department store in Portland, Oregon, operating under that name until 1960. This definitively dates the piece to the mid-century post-war boom, a period when mink stoles were a standard luxury item for middle-to-upper-class American women. While not a bespoke luxury furrier, regional department store furs from this era were generally well-made using quality commercial pelts. The market for vintage mid-century fur is highly polarized.
Maker / Origin
Olds & King
Condition & Value
Visually, the mahogany mink pile appears rich and lustrous, and the custom satin lining is intact. However, vintage fur valuation is highly dependent on tactile condition—specifically the suppleness of the pelts (whether they have dried out or 'crack' when bent) and the presence of shedding or odors.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
The market for vintage mid-century fur is highly polarized. While high-end modern designer furs hold significant value, unnamed or regional department store stoles from the 1950s are abundant. The strongest current demand for these specific pieces is found in the bridal market (for fall/winter weddings) and among vintage fashion enthusiasts. Pieces that are stiff, shedding, or have 'vintage odor' are practically unsellable, while soft, well-stored pieces move steadily on direct-to-consumer platforms.
▲ Definitive Olds & King label guarantees authentic mid-century (pre-1960) provenance.
▲ Mahogany mink remains a classic, highly desirable color profile for vintage outerwear.
▲ Strong secondary market demand for mid-century stoles repurposed as winter bridal accessories.
▼ Unverified pelt suppleness — dried or 'cracking' pelts would drop the value to the sub-$50 'as-is' tier.
▼ Unverified odor — vintage storage smells (mustiness, mothballs) severely limit buyer interest and require costly ozone treatment.
▼ High market saturation — mid-century department store furs are abundant, limiting the ceiling compared to designer names.
Best Venue
List on a direct-to-consumer vintage marketplace like Etsy or Poshmark, specifically utilizing keywords targeting the winter bridal market (e.g., 'bridal shawl', 'winter wedding wrap'). Before listing, gently test the pelts for suppleness and ensure there are no storage odors, as confirming these details in the listing description will justify pricing at the higher end of the range.
Upside Potential
If the fur is exceptionally soft, freshly glazed, and free of any odors, marketing it specifically to the high-end bridal market with excellent photography could push the realization toward the $350 tier seen in top-condition Poshmark comps.
Also found — market-range context
Surfaced during research but not used to anchor the valuation — wrong form, species, era, or no published price. Shown so the market range around this item is visible.