The original Jane Birkin bag, which arguably set the template for being the most desired accessory in fashion history. The coveted bag has been bought for 8.6 million euros (7.4 million pounds, and 10.1 million dollars). The bag has become the most valuable handbag ever sold at auction.
The bag is black and made with authentic leather, which was made for singer Jane Birkin in 1985. The bag was crafted for her when she spilt her belongings while sitting next to the luxury fashion house Hermes on a flight.
Birkin asked why they did not craft larger bags, so he sketched out a new design for her. The design was more practical; however, it was still a highly desirable accessory on the plane’s sick bag.
The design he created was sold to a private collector in Japan at Sotheby’s in Paris. The auction for the Hermes bag took place on Thursday, far surpassing the previous record sale of 439,000 euros (378,000 pounds).
The auction house said that there was a 10-minute electrifying bidding war between nine potential collectors.
Sotheby’s global head of handbag and fashion, Morgane Halimi, said that the cost was a startling demonstration of the potential of a legend. It was a challenge of passion and desire of the collectors seeking an exceptional accessory with a unique provenance to own the origin.
She added that the Birkin prototype is a reflection of an extraordinary story that has given the fashion industry a modern icon, the Birkin Bag. It is the most coveted bag in the entire world.
The 7 million pounds total includes commission and fees. Sotheby’s did not reveal a pre-auction estimate.
Hermes, after designing the bag for the Anglo-French singer and actress, put the bag into commercial production. The handbag remains one of the most exclusive status symbols in fashion history.
Some designs cost many tens of thousands of dollars, and people have to wait for the styles for many years. Some owners of the bag include celebrities like Kate Moss, Jennifer Lopez, Victoria Beckham, and more.
The original design of the bag has some unique features, such as Birkin’s initials on the front flap. There were the nail clippers, those Birkin attached to the strap, a non-removable shoulder strap, and marks where she put stickers for reasons she supported.
Birkin died in 2023, at the age of 76, and owned the original bag for a decade. She donated the bag to raise funds for an Aids charity in 1994.
The bag was later bought by Catherine Benier, who owns a luxury boutique in Paris. Catherine owned the Hermes bag for 25 years before selling it on Thursday.