A rare ’Eperon’ Hermès black crocodile handbag, 1940s, crocodylus porosus, stamped in gold to the interior, ’Hermès Paris, 24 Faubourg St Honore’, with hinged spur-shaped gilt brass clasp which secures the pinned heel shaped, rounded, rigid sides, lined in soft calf leather, large gilt brass pins secure the handle at the sides, 23cm, 9in high
Apparently this bag was very popular with black-marketeers during the war, because the rigid curved sides meant that you could not tell if the bag was full or empty, or the nature of the contents.