Jane Birkin’s Original Hermès Bag Sells for a $10.1 Million at Auction

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Jane Birkin‘s original Birkin bag has found a new owner.

The black leather Hermès handbag, created by Jean-Louis Dumas (former head of the French brand) around the early ’80s following an accidental encounter with a late actress, was auctioned off for a staggering $10.1 million at Sotheby’s in Paris on July 10.

9 collectors worldwide participated in a fast-paced bidding contest lasting 10 minutes, using various methods such as phone calls, online platforms, and in-person meetings, according to the auction house. A mysterious buyer based in Japan initially placed a bid of $7.2 million, followed by an increased offer of $7.6 million, then further upping it to $7.9 million. Eventually, this anonymous Japanese bidder secured the winning bid.

According to legend, the bag was designed following an encounter between Dumas and Birkin on a flight from Paris to London. During their conversation, Birkin expressed her annoyance about the limited capacity of existing handbags to hold all her essentials. This interaction inspired Dumas to create a spacious handbag to address Birkin’s needs.

Hermès designed a specific model according to Birkin’s requirements. Although she received four additional items, the actress from “Death on the Nile” used her initial bag for ten years before letting it go in 1994. (Birkin, who passed away in 2023 at age 76, was the one who owned this bag.)

Indeed, the original piece retains evidence of Birkin’s usage – she was known for using her bags rather than preserving them in pristine condition – as stated by Sotheby’s. Not only does it display her initials “J.B.” engraved on the front, but Birkin’s nail clippers remain attached to one of the straps even now.

This particular Hermès Birkin bag stands out due to unique design aspects not found in other versions. It boasts a permanent shoulder strap, ornate gold-plated hardware, and smaller base studs that are distinct. Additionally, it has an unusual size: while its height and width match the standard Birkin 35, it possesses a depth similar to a Birkin 40 model.

In 1994, Birkin donated the handbag to a charity auction. This same bag was later bought by a person known as “Christine B” in 2000, who is recognized as a collector.

Christine shared with Sotheby’s that she has cherished owning the Birkin bag for 25 years; it serves as a symbol of her dedication to contributing to the global recognition of the Birkin bag as an icon. She emphasized that the sale of the bag is not its final chapter, but instead marks the start of exciting new experiences for the bag and its future owners.

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2025-07-11 01:16