1970s Bottega Veneta Multicolour Intrecciato Shoulder Bag

This shoulder bag was made by Bottega Veneta in Vicenza in the late 1970s. Its ivory nappa leather base is interlaced by hand with strips of metallic, sapphire and crimson leather, forming a rhythmic geometric pattern. The softly domed silhouette is finished with angular brass hardware and a magnetic top flap, and the bag measures approx. 27 x 20 x 6 cm.

Bottega Veneta was founded in Vicenza in 1966 by Michele Taddei and Renzo Zengiaro, and it built its reputation on hand-woven leather. In the 1970s the house advertised itself with the line When your own initials are enough, a statement of its preference for craftsmanship over visible branding. It was acquired by the Gucci Group in 2001.

Inside, a smooth beige lining is fitted with a leather-trimmed pocket. The inner label is sewn in reverse, so that it reads correctly when the bag is opened: a detail seen by the wearer rather than by others.

Many Bottega Veneta bags from the 1970s were flat or envelope-shaped, which makes this softly domed form less common. Its multicoloured geometric weave also sets it apart from the single-colour intrecciato that later defined the house, and early pieces like this are sought after by collectors of Italian leather goods.