I've gotten quite a few emails asking me how to figure out from what decade a Vera scarf or napkin is. So, I decided to post it on the blog because there's a lot of information--too much to really put in an email. So, buckle up. Here goes!
To help you with dating Vera product, you can generally do it from the logo. There are always exceptions to the rules, of course, but I can tell you in general terms what to look for. When the signature is very small and looks as though the letters are all the same size, that scarf is from the 50s. These scarves are from the late 50s, so the V is a bit bigger than the rest of the signature. The late 40s and early 50s scarves show more evenly sized letters. There are no copyright symbols on the 50s scarves, but don’t be fooled—the designs are copyrighted!
1958
1959
1959
1959
1959
The signature then still is small, but gets slightly bigger and adds a © symbol in the early 60s. The ladybugs are added and the signature is still slightly smaller. The ladybug is the same size as the signature.
1960
1961
1962
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
In the late 60s, the ladybug disappears and the signature gets very large. At times, the ladybug is still there. You can see the two 1967 scarves that have a signature that is similar to the early/mid 60s logo. They are probably from the first half of 1967. The ladybug disappears for a few scarves and then comes back with a larger signature or after the large signature. Then, in 1969 the ladybug disappears again and leaves a large signature.
1967
1967
1967
1968
1968
1968
1969
1969
1969
The ladybug stays away for the early 70s…
1970
1970
1970
1970
1971
1971
1972
1972
…and then reappears in ’73 with a very large signature. She then shortly disappears in 1976.
1973
1974
1975
1975
1976
1976
1976
1976
1977
1979
1979
The ladybug totally disappears in the 80s and doesn’t come back (until our present-day scarves). The signature is smaller than in the 70s.
1980
1980
1981
1981
1983
1984
1985
1991
Hopefully this will help with everyone’s curiosity about the dates of your scarves. I know it’s confusing at first, but you get the hang of it after a while. Of course, it’s probably easier for me since I work here. I get to work with a lot of scarves, well, a lot! You develop an eye for it. It’s kind of like archeology and very fun! I will probably do another posting comparing the sizes of the signatures with each other because you really can't tell from the pictures how much smaller or bigger the signatures are between the years. Look for that and more coming up!
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32 comments:
VERY nice summary, could you show us a 'NEW' signature sometime? Thanks!
Love your article! How does someone gets a hold of one scarve of a certain year? Thanks, Mia.
Thanks very much as I sell vintage Vera's on eBay I like to be as accurate with the dates as possible. I have over 68 Vera's right now in my store.
I'm a little late to the party here, but I couldn't read this and not say "thank you!" I've got this page bookmarked for future reference. As a seller of vintage clothing and accessories as well as a fan of Vera, I'm thrilled that I'll be able to date my vintage Vera scarves correctly from now on!
You're all so welcome! It was so fun doing this project--almost like archeology. As far as getting a scarf from a certain year, you'd have to check the logo to see if it's the year you would like. For instance, if you want a scarf from 1968, you'd look for the logo that has a ladybug after the signature. Sorry I'm not more help. I will post the new signature sometime, or you can view it on our website at www.theveracompany.com. The scarves we have for sale have the logo on them. It has the ladybug before the logo and is rather large.
I have a thin, almost ribbonlike Vera Black scarf that has little seagulls printed in white sitting on pilings and flying.
it is about 24 inches long and a little over an inch wide
I assume it is an "at the neck" tie-
inside it reads "seagulls by Vera"
got any info??
Tnelson
I was curious about dating my scarf but the signature I have was not listed in your fantastic tutorial. My scarfs signature says : A Vera DESIGN
Help?
Thanks!
This is great information. I recently purchased what I believed to be a Vera scarf at a second hand store. All signs point to a late '60s scarf - silk square with bold, graphic print with a large Vera signature followed by a copyright and small ladybug. It is red, pink, and white butterflies on a royal blue background with a quadrant in white with pink, red, and blue butterflies. However, the copyright symbol isn't clear, but rather a little blobby. At the very least, I got a cute scarf for less than a dollar but my question is - are there any tell-tale signs of a fake?
Teena--That is so funny! I just had someone ask me about the very same thing today! It is from the 50s. I'm researching it more and will hopefully come up with something more for you.
Trina--could you post a picture of your scarf maybe on our Facebook page and I will take a look?
Valerie--the copyright symbol can be blobby because of the printing process. It could have had more ink absorbed there. I don't know of any fakes, but that doesn't mean they're not out there. Does your scarf still have the tag on it? Where does it say it's manufactured?
No tag and I actually meant to say it was a little blob - there is no discernible "c" in a circle. Pleasantly surprised to learn that you haven't heard of any fakes. I will post a photo on Facebook and would appreciate any further feedback. Thanks so much for your information and response!
Hi,
I have a Vera Scarf purchased at an Estate Sale which I have not seen before. It shows two Haitian houses and at the bottom of the scarf is the following:
Schumacher's Haitian Collection
"Side Street" by Vera and the V looks like a U and it is not followed by a circled c. The scrip appears to be in her own handwriting. Any help on thehistory,age, etc. of this scarf is greatly appreciated.
I have two unusual Vera scarves that I was hoping you could date for me! The first is a silk square, stylized floral print in orange, pink, and fuschia. There is no signature on the scarf, but there is a very small tag that says "Scarves by Vera (with a copyright symbol) Handmade in the USA" or something very similar. "Vera" is a signature.
The other scarf is a very long mohair open-knit scarf in several shades of magenta, fuschia, pink, and purple (tonal) with long fringe. It has a "Vera" signature tag sewn on, along with a tag from Peck & Peck, Fifth Avenue. I haven't come across many knit Vera scarves at all, but it's one of my winter favorites!
Thanks for the help!
I hope you can help me. I have two square Vera scarves the red one has a little gold medallion attached on the corner by the tag the medallion has a raised profile of a woman it looks like to me and the tag says Scarves by Vera all silk handrolled made in Italy.
The Pink scarf, also square has a little gold medallion attached by the tag one side has an engraved ladybuf and the other side has a tag inside that reads, All silk
handrolled Vera this one also has the same sewn on label as the red one.
Any info you can give me would be appreciated
Thank you
Th
I just left descriptions of two scarfs and forgot to attach email
Thanks
Sandy--the one with the coin on the corner with the woman on it is from Vera's "Gold Piece Collection." That collection was made in the late 1960s. I believe the majority was in 1968. The other medallion with the ladybug on it came from "The Best of Vera" collection. I will have to research more on from what time frame that collection came.
Just what I needed--thank you for posting all the photos and info about the signatures. I also sell Vera items in my vintage shop on Etsy! :)
Great post. It's always nice to learn more about Vera, especially dating scarves.
I have a beautiful "winter berries" Vera. The tag reads "100% silk, patent pending" An early 50s or earlier, perhaps. A great find.
thank you for this post, dahlila
Just found a wonderful Vera scarf at a thrift store. It has no signature on it, but has a tag that says "scarves by Vera, all silk - designed and handscreened in USA". The "Vera" is a signature with a small "V" and there is a copyright symbol. Its about 5 inches wide and approx 60 inches long - maybe more of a belt or tie? Any thoughts on age would be appreciated. It has 1-2 inch orange polka dots across a tan background. Thanks so much!
I come across vera scarves on those rare and happy occasions, and this is great info for helping me post them at luncheonettevintage. But what about other items? Can you help me date a Very Vera blouse?
much appreciated!
jana
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Luncheonettevintage
I'm lucky to find lots of Vera items in my area. Problem is Mrs. R. confiscates them lol! Great blog! Tks for the info! Smoochies!
MrFilthyRotten
http://www.etsy.com/shop/MrFilthyRotten
Tara--
From the sound of it, your scarf is from the early 60s, but I can't be positive since you said it doesn't have a signature. Can you email me a picture of it? You can send it to heather.shields@theveracompany.com. Thanks so much!
I found a Vera scarf and the tag says Nylon. Is that a newer scarf? The log on the scarf itself looks like the one from 1974.
This was a terrifically helpful article -- thanks so much for the info!
But it would have been much more helpful if there had been a comparison item placed in the photos to give some perspective on what you meant by the different sizes of signatures -- a penny or dime, or anything with a commonly recognized size.
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What period of time would a solid color scarf with a gremio seal have been produced? On the front of the seal, it says, "Vera Pure Silk Hand Rolled" and on the back is the imprint of the ladybug. There is no other tag. I have photos.
Thank you so much, Pat
My sister had a scarf sometime between the mid 1940's to very early 1950's that had her name "Alice" on it in red cursive on a white background. The name was repeated all over the scarf; it may have had a border but I don't remember. I'm not sure if it was silk or nylon. Would this have been a Vera product, and do you know if one still exists?
Hi, I found your website very informative. I live here in Havelock, Ontario, Canada and am always hunting for Vera items to use here at home or put in my antiques & collectible shop. I also sell on ebay and love to see Vera items on there. Thanks for working so hard for all of us!
Oh my gosh, THANK YOU for this very useful reference. Bookmarked! For my own use, and to send others to!
While this is an amazing resource, it would really be most helpful for a size comparison other than 'big' and 'small', because those are so subjective! I have a Vera with no ladybug, a copyright symbol and a small font -- according to the information here, it could be either early 1960s or 1980s! Heck of a gap there.
GREAT REF. THANK YOU FOR SPENDING SO MUCH TIME. IF EVER YOU HAVE SPARE TIME:) IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU COULD ADD SOME INFO ABOUT DATING BY LABELS SUCH AS WHERE THEY WERE MFG. IF THAT HELPS DATE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INFO!
This was very helpful....I always strive to be as accurate as possible when selling my vintage accessories and again, this is just so great of you to publish! Laura at VintageJewelryEtc
I know an accountant in Chariton IA that has two Vera wall hangings in his waiting room. It just is so retro in his place. Has not changed a thing in years, as he is thrifty.
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