IDing fur 1

[exit55]

Have three fur pieces that I need to verify type fur.  Live in small town so there are no  fur selling stores in town. Will probably have to do three treads to get pictures of each one. 

Have researched web and best I can tell there is difference in coarseness, but don't have any time that I know is correct. Do have two mink boa (wraps) that I am sure about.  Have eyes feet tails etc

They do not have labels to define type fur or size.  How do you size if no label?

Think this is mink .  Is it called a wrap? 

[melda58]

Generally called a "stole" as in mink stole.

Rita

[patd3283]

Yep, mink stole.  You'll want to look at colors to figure out what yours is.  The last initials are of the previous owner.  When figuring out size, get a few friends to try it around their shoulders and find out what size they wear.  They are usually grouped as small, medium, etc.

[lacemaker3 · Accepted solution]

This looks like mink, and it probably is mink because it's a rather small piece, but it isn't possible to identify fur with 100% certainty from a photograph.

Small pieces like this use less fur, so they would be less expensive than a larger piece like a long coat. Therefore, a small vintage piece is more likely to be made of the "genuine" fur type, because it cost less. However, mink was more desireable so other types of fur were made to imitate it. Both beaver and muskrat can look just like mink, however a coat made of mink was much lighter weight than a similar piece of beaver. The difference in weight is quite noticable when you have them both in hand. That made mink more comfortable to wear, but just as warm. Part of the reason why it was more desirable, in addition to marketing.

If the seams that sew the fur together are damaged, that means that the skin/leather has dried out and is perished. There's no way to fix this, it will keep coming apart in more places if it is worn or handled. This can really lower the value.