{"id":64956,"date":"2025-07-11T09:40:18","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T05:40:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/?post_type=articles&p=268851"},"modified":"2025-07-11T10:46:53","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T06:46:53","slug":"jane-birkin-bag-auction","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/articles\/jane-birkin-bag-auction\/","title":{"rendered":"Jane Birkin’s Original Herm\u00e8s Birkin Has Sold At Auction For \u20ac7 Million"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Jane Birkin attends the ‘Jane Birkin sings Serge Gainsbourg “VIA JAPAN”‘ press conference at L’Institut Franco-Japonais de Tokyo on March 26, 2013 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Jun Sato\/WireImage)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Conceptualised and sketched by two seatmates on a flight, there was no way to know that the Birkin bag by Herm\u00e8s<\/a> would not only go on to gain cult status, but that the prototype would become a record-breaking auction item decades on.<\/p>\n

On Thursday morning in Paris, Jane Birkin\u2019s original Birkin was sold at auction<\/a> for $10.1 million USD (\u20ac7 million, Dhs30 million). Auctioned by Sotheby\u2019s, the sale lasted merely 10 minutes, with nine bidders participating. Bidding began at $1.7 million USD before rapidly ascending to the final hammer price, and ultimately being bought by a private collector.<\/p>\n

The iconic piece now holds the records for the most valuable handbag sold at auction, the most valuable fashion item sold in Europe, and the most valuable luxury item ever sold at Sotheby\u2019s Paris. It remains only second to the Red Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz<\/em> for most valuable fashion item ever sold, with the shoes selling for $32.5 million USD in 2024.<\/p>\n

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PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 03: A close-up of Jane Birkin\u2019s original black leather Herm\u00e8s Birkin bag. (Photo by Edward Berthelot\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Herm\u00e8s Birkin<\/a> dates back to a flight in 1981, with a chance encounter so perfect it may be deemed kismet. In a story known to brand loyalists and fashion aficionados, actress and musician Jane Birkin spilled the contents of her wicker basket (used in lieu of a handbag) in front of Herm\u00e8s’ art director Jean-Louis Dumas on their Air France flight. In the conversation which followed, the style icon shared her frustrations with the impracticality of handbags at the time.<\/p>\n

The resulting sketch conceptualised by the pair would eventually become the Birkin prototype, presented to its namesake in 1985. The final product sold would end up with more variations, making hers one of a kind.<\/p>\n

Unlike any other Birkin, Jane\u2019s bag took on a cult status of its own, idolised for the practical way in which it was used by the icon.<\/a> She was seldom seen without the overflowing accessory, and pioneered personalising one\u2019s bag long before the advent of the curated bag charm trend.<\/p>\n

\u201cMore than just a bag, the Birkin has evolved from a practical accessory to become a timeless cultural icon,\u201d said Sotheby\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\"jane-birkin-auction\"
Jane Birkin attends the Jean Paul Gaultier Spring\/Summer 2005 Fashion Show during Paris Fashion Week on July 8, 2004 in Paris, France. 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