This late 1940s French leather coat represents the best of post war European craftsmanship, a period when small ateliers across France returned to producing hard-wearing garments for motorists, riders, and tradesmen, drawing on wartime construction methods but refining them for civilian life. Built in the classic three-quarter-length belted silhouette, it captures the exact balance of practicality and understated style that defined French outerwear in the years immediately after liberation.
Cut from tight grained, vegetable tanned leather, the coat has developed a beautifully complex patina through decades of wear. The surface shifts from deep chestnut to warm amber across the seams and sleeves, revealing the natural ageing unique to mid century French tanning. Substantial in weight yet supple in hand, the hide retains the integrity of its original structure without stiffness, offering the confident drape associated with workwear and early motorcycling garments of the period.
The design is unmistakably French: a double-breasted front built to block the wind, wide lapels with a functional throat latch, adjustable cuff tabs, angled hand-warmer pockets, and a full waist belt that anchors the coat during riding or outdoor labour. Inside, the traditional wool check lining, freshly cleaned, provides warmth and reinforces its post-war civilian origins. Jackets of this pattern were commonly worn by motorists, early motorcyclists, delivery riders, municipal workers, and anyone needing durable, weather-ready protection in a recovering nation.
Professionally cleaned and conditioned, the coat has been carefully revived to preserve its authenticity while ensuring long term durability. The leather has been nourished to restore depth and suppleness, areas of age-related chapping treated, and the lining refreshed. All buttons, stitching, and the original belt remain secure and functional.
Honest wear throughout gives the jacket its character: shading, creasing, and patina that testify to a life well lived. Structurally sound with strong seams and a beautifully aged surface, it stands today as a compelling example of post-war French craftsmanship, practical, resilient, and steeped in history.
Key Identifying Features
- Late 1940s early 1950s French moto/car coat
- Tight-grained vegetable tanned leather with rich natural patina
- Classic double breasted front with wide lapels
- Original leather waist belt and cuff adjusters
- Wool check lining (professionally cleaned)
- Strong seams and excellent structure with age appropriate wear
- Authentic post war French craftsmanship made for motorists, riders, and outdoor work
Garment Measurements (Laid Flat)
- Chest (armpit to armpit): 23"
- Shoulders (seam to seam): 19.5"
- Sleeve length (shoulder to cuff): 26.5"
- Sleeve length (underarm to cuff): 17.5"
- Back length (collar seam to hem): 32.5"
Best suited for a size 42, medium build. Please compare with a similar coat for accuracy.
This jacket represents the quiet sophistication of French post war design, where practicality met craftsmanship and every detail was made to last. A beautifully preserved example of early civilian leatherwork from an era that helped shape the foundations of modern outerwear.
