A dry feel, a misshapen bag and collapsed internal support can coexist, but they need separate assessment. Conditioner cannot repair a displaced base board or failed reinforcement.
What to check
- Use gentle pressure to assess leather recovery and support beneath the lining.
- Look for folds caused by compression during storage.
- Check corners, the base board and reinforcement for displacement.
- Distinguish surface dryness from unstable internal construction.
Next steps
- Use appropriate light support and let the bag rest in a reasonable shape.
- Assess whether the leather is suitable for conditioning.
- Address surface and structural issues separately.
- Judge against the original outline, rather than aiming for maximum fullness.
Large amounts of oil can darken the leather and leave it greasy without restoring the base or reinforcement. Do not try to solve structural collapse through heavy conditioning.