8.5" x 6.5", 17" shoulder drop Notes from the Curator The matelassé quilting pattern that defines this camera bag traces its origins to Coco Chanel's observation of the padded jackets worn by stable boys at equestrian estates—a utilitarian detail she transformed into a luxury signature when she introduced her first quilted handbag in 1955. The diamond-quilted pattern visible here—stitched into soft lambskin leather—provides both tactile richness and structured volume, a hallmark of the camera-bag format that emerged as part of Chanel's exploration of compact, hands-free designs. The gold chain-link shoulder strap threaded with leather and a top zipper that opens to a red leather interior mark this as a variant in the classic matelassé lineage, built for day-to-evening versatility. The camera bag's boxy proportions and wraparound zip distinguish it from the flap-front models, offering rapid access and a silhouette that reads as both sporty and refined. Red lambskin, rarer than black or beige in Chanel's production runs, lends the piece a boldness that sits comfortably within the house's tradition of transforming practical accessories into statements of uncompromising style.