Jane Birkin’s original Hermès bag sells for over $10 million at auction

 

Legendusashirt: Jane Birkin’s Original Hermès Bag Sells for Over $10 Million at Auction



In a truly unprecedented event that has sent shockwaves through the world of fashion and luxury collectibles, Jane Birkin's original Hermès bag, the very prototype that inspired the iconic "Birkin" itself, fetched a staggering €8.6 million (approximately $10.1 million USD) at a Sotheby's auction in Paris on Thursday, July 10, 2025. This record-breaking sale makes it the most valuable handbag ever sold at auction and the second most valuable fashion item in history, only trailing Judy Garland's ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz.

The bidding war was intense, lasting a captivating 10 minutes, with nine determined collectors vying for the piece of fashion history via telephone, online, and in the room. The opening bid of €1 million immediately eclipsed the previous record for a handbag, setting the stage for the electrifying climb to its final price, which was secured by a private collector from Japan.



What makes this particular Birkin so extraordinary? This wasn't just any Birkin bag; it was the Birkin. Crafted by Hermès in 1985, this black leather bag was the direct result of a serendipitous encounter between the British actress and singer Jane Birkin and Hermès artistic director Jean-Louis Dumas on an Air France flight in 1981. Birkin, known for carrying an overflowing wicker basket, lamented her inability to find a practical yet stylish bag large enough for her needs as a young mother. Dumas, inspired, sketched a design on an airplane sick bag, and the rest, as they say, is fashion history.

The original prototype boasts several unique features that differentiate it from the commercially produced Birkin bags that followed. It has a non-removable shoulder strap, a distinct blend of the Birkin 35's width and height with the Birkin 40's depth, and brass hardware rather than the later gold-plated versions. Crucially, it also bears Birkin's personal touch: her initials "J.B." stamped on the front flap, and famously, the small nail clipper she kept dangling from an inside strap. Its worn condition, complete with marks from activist stickers for Médecins du Monde and UNICEF, is a testament to its everyday use by the beloved icon.

This auction wasn't just about selling a bag; it was about selling a legend. Jane Birkin, who passed away in 2023, often joked that her obituaries would simply say, "Like the bag." With this record-shattering sale, her legacy, intrinsically tied to the world's most coveted accessory, has been cemented in an even more indelible way.

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