Original Hermès Birkin Sells for Staggering $10 Million USD

Summary

Jane Birkin’s original Hermès bag sold for a staggering $10 million USD
This makes it the most expensive handbag ever auctioned, reflecting its unique origin and cultural status

The Hermès bag originally designed for Jane Birkin, a representation of high-end luxury that originated from an unexpected airplane meeting, was sold at auction for an astonishing $10.1 million (8.6 million euros) including fees. This sale, facilitated by Sotheby’s in Paris, has smashed previous records, becoming the most expensive handbag ever auctioned and the second most valuable fashion item sold at auction.

The original design, hastily drawn on an airsickness bag by Birkin during a 1981 flight alongside Jean-Louis Dumas (then head of Hermès), was handmade for her in 1984 and delivered in 1985. Over the years until 1994, Birkin frequently used this worn black leather bag, even adding stickers from Médecins du Monde and UNICEF, as well as incorporating functional elements like a nail clipper. These personal touches and its unique history set it apart from all commercially produced Birkin bags, which later came to symbolize global exclusivity and high fashion.

In a heated 10-minute contest among nine eager collectors, a private Japanese collector emerged victorious in acquiring the renowned bag. This sale price broke the previous record for a handbag, surpassing a diamond and crocodile Kelly bag sold for $513,040 USD in 2021, and also outdoing a white-diamond Himalaya Birkin that fetched $450,000 USD in 2022. Prior to the bidding, auctioneer Aurélie Vandevoorde stated, “Today, the Birkin has transformed into a true fashion icon,” referring to it as “the most celebrated bag ever made.”

Morgane Halimi, Sotheby’s Head of Global Handbags and Fashion, deemed the sale a significant achievement, remarking, “It’s astonishing to ponder that a handbag, initially created by Hermès for practical purposes as an accessory for Jane Birkin, has evolved into the most coveted bag in history.” The extraordinary cost of this item showcases not only its scarcity and historical background but also its profound cultural impact as a key artifact of fashion history, intricately linked to the life of its muse, Jane Birkin, who sadly passed away in 2023.

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