{"product_id":"vintage-1940s-50s-french-grillon-cognac-cowhide-workwear-jacket","title":"Vintage 1940s–50s French Grillon Cognac Sheepskin Workwear Jacket","description":"\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eA genuine mid-century French leather workwear jacket, produced under the Grillon name and carrying the distinctive period label marked \u003cstrong\u003e“Pluie... Vent... Neige”\u003c\/strong\u003e, translating as \u003cstrong\u003e“Rain... Wind... Snow.”\u003c\/strong\u003e Dating from around the 1940s to 1950s, it is a beautifully aged example of practical French outerwear, made particularly striking by its cognac cowhide and the patina developed through decades of genuine wear.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe leather is the defining feature. Cut from substantial cognac cowhide, it has developed an exceptionally supple, broken-in handle through many decades of use. Areas that have seen the most movement and contact have become particularly soft, while the hide still retains the strength and substance expected of a working leather jacket from this period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original finish has worn naturally across the shoulders, sleeves, seams and edges, revealing warmer caramel and golden tones beneath the deeper cognac brown. Areas of the darker finish remain across the body, creating a remarkable depth and variation in colour that could only have developed through prolonged wear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe construction is direct and purposeful. A traditional point collar sits above the original Éclair front zip, while a broad horizontal yoke runs across the chest and continues around the back. Two neatly worked besom pockets are incorporated into the chest seam, with larger angled pockets positioned lower at the hips. The long, straight body gives the jacket its characteristic mid-century French workwear silhouette.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original Éclair hardware is an important identifying detail and remains in working order. Together with the Grillon label, construction and overall styling, it supports the jacket's mid-century French origins.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInside, the jacket tells much of its own history. The lining appears originally to have been wool throughout, worked in a distinctive green, rust and cream check. As areas wore through over the years, sections were carefully repaired and reinforced with cotton fabric rather than the entire lining being discarded and replaced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are several small age-related stitch repairs elsewhere on the garment, most difficult to notice without close inspection, together with a couple of tiny holes. Someone clearly valued this jacket enough to keep maintaining it, and those old repairs have been retained as part of its history rather than disguised.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe history is in the leather itself.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan role=\"text\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition \u0026amp; Preservation\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVery good vintage condition for a working leather jacket of this age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cowhide remains strong, supple and fully wearable. Decades of wear have softened and broken in the leather considerably, particularly through areas of regular movement and handling, giving parts of the jacket an exceptionally soft feel while retaining good strength and substance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is extensive natural patina and finish wear throughout. The original cognac colour now ranges from deeper tobacco brown through warm caramel and golden tones. Light surface crazing is present around the rear of the collar, together with several discreet old stitch repairs and a couple of tiny age-related holes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original wool lining shows wear and has been repaired and reinforced with cotton fabric in places over the years. These historic repairs remain intact and form an important part of the jacket's character and working history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original Éclair front zip remains functional.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe jacket has been specialist cleaned and carefully conditioned in-house. Our approach has been one of preservation, returning suppleness to the cowhide while retaining the original finish, historic repairs and naturally developed patina.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan role=\"text\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Identifying Features\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1940s–50s French Grillon leather workwear jacket\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginal “Pluie... Vent... Neige” Grillon label\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCognac cowhide\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSubstantial hide with a beautifully broken-in handle\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExceptionally soft and supple in areas through decades of wear\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNaturally developed cognac, caramel and tobacco patina\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExtensive original finish wear\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginal period Éclair front zip\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTraditional point collar\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBroad front and rear shoulder yoke\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTwin besom chest pockets\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTwo angled lower hand pockets\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLong, straight workwear cut\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGreen, rust and cream checked wool lining\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHistoric cotton lining repairs and reinforcement\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDiscreet age-related stitch repairs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpecialist cleaned and conditioned in-house\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStrong and fully wearable\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan role=\"text\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGarment Measurements (Laid Flat)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChest (armpit to armpit): 23\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShoulders (seam to seam): 19\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSleeve length (shoulder to cuff): 24.5\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSleeve length (underarm to cuff): 17.5\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBack length (collar seam to hem): 31.5\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis jacket is best suited to a \u003cstrong\u003e42\" regular fit\u003c\/strong\u003e. Please compare the measurements with a similar garment you own to ensure the best fit.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Revive \u0026 Restore Vintage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54787821797699,"sku":"EB5083","price":395.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0786\/2232\/7107\/files\/IMG_4241_4fad6cd7-accd-4bf3-9d55-e208efae1608.jpg?v=1788420316","url":"https:\/\/reviverestorevintage.co.uk\/products\/vintage-1940s-50s-french-grillon-cognac-cowhide-workwear-jacket","provider":"Revive \u0026 Restore Vintage","version":"1.0","type":"link"}