How do I authenticate a Fendi?

[Katie O]

Hello all--

I recently won a vintage 'Fendi' on eBay, and I'm not at all sure it's the real thing; several things about it strike me as suspicious. It's a big bag, a shoulder bag in reddish brown leather, with a strap that at the last hole is almost 52" long (I like that part), with a toggle and 'horn' closure? The hardware is brass, and using magnifying reading glasses, it looks to me as if it's actually painted pot metal (some silver is showing through). The front has a round stitched down Fendi logo, stamped Fendi Roma Italy 1925, with the double F logo. Does anyone know of an archive of photos of Fendi styles? A hot pin test on the 'horn' isn't doing anything; all I can smell is leather, rueful look. Any help at all would be appreciated; if it's real I owe the seller an apology, but if it isn't, I want a full refund including the shipping it back to her... (She immediately offered to take it back, and then in her next email said she had authenticated it. As I can't find any way to do that, I'd like to know how/if she did?)

Thanks!

Katie O

[kagome]

There are a lot of handbag forums that authenticate handbags. You have to be a member and you post the pictures. The people that authenticate them are very knowledgeable mainly because they have purchased a lot of the bags they are authenticating. Good Luck!

[Katie O]

Thanks so much! I'll see if my son can take the pictures for me; I don't have a digital camera. Can you give me the names or addresses of any of those sites? It's an old bag, whether Fendi or not, so it doesn't look like anything recent I can compare it to. Thanks again!

[kagome]

Google - The Purse Forum. Go to the Fendi section - they are very good. You have to register first to be able to post.