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Posh Pawn • The collector’s reference

The collector’s glossary

The words that make product descriptions, condition notes, and model comparisons easier to read.

Alcantara
A branded microfiber material; some date stamps on soft lining can fade.
Bandoulière
Shoulder strap; also part of the name of certain strap-equipped model variants.
Canvas
Fabric-based material; coated canvas has a protective surface.
Clochette
A small leather key cover used with selected bags.
Color transfer
Pigment moving from one material to another through contact.
Damier
The checkerboard motif family.
Ébène
Ebony; part of the Damier Ebene colorway name.
Embossing
A design pressed into a surface rather than printed on top.
Empreinte
An embossed Monogram leather family.
Epi
Leather with a linear, rippled texture.
Glazing
The finished coating along a leather edge.
Hardware
Metal fittings such as zippers, clasps, rings, and studs.
Heat stamp
A mark impressed into a surface through heat.
Lining
The inner surface of a bag or accessory.
Monogram
The initials-and-floral motif vocabulary.
Patina
The appearance developed by a surface through age and use.
Piping
A narrow finishing detail along a seam or edge.
Pochette
A pouch; the word appears in several different model names.
Provenance
The documented history or source of an item.
Reissue
A later release that revisits an earlier design or motif.
Savoir-faire
Craft knowledge and skill.
Silhouette
The overall outline or shape.
Strap drop
The vertical distance from the top of a strap to the bag.
Taurillon
A grained leather vocabulary used in selected collections.
Vachetta
Natural leather often used in handles and trim.
Vernis
A glossy embossed leather finish.
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Independent educational reference. Not affiliated with Louis Vuitton. Identification tools do not authenticate items.

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