Jane Birkin’s personal Hermès prototype sells for $10.1 million at Sotheby’s Paris
Jane Birkin’s original Hermès Birkin bag—the very first of its kind—sold for $10.1 million at Sotheby’s Paris on Thursday, setting a new record for the most expensive handbag ever sold at auction.
The black leather carryall, made for Birkin in 1984, drew intense interest from collectors around the world. The bidding opened at €1 million and quickly escalated into a tense ten-minute standoff between nine bidders. It ultimately went to a private collector in Japan who was bidding by phone through Maiko Ichikawa, the country head of Sotheby’s Japan. The result was a landmark moment for Sotheby’s Paris salesroom, since the price far surpassed the previous handbag record, which was just over $500,000 for a Hermès Kelly sold in 2021.
But this was no ordinary bag. It was the Birkin—the prototype that launched one of fashion’s most recognizable and coveted designs. Created after a chance meeting between Birkin and Hermès executive Jean-Louis Dumas on a flight, the bag combined utility and elegance in a way that spoke to a new era of women’s fashion. Birkin had famously not been able to find a leather bag she liked on the market, and was often captured carrying a wicker basket. The day before meeting Dumas, Serge Gainsbourg had accidentally run one of them over with his car. For decades, the Birkin has been a shorthand for luxury and status, but it started, as many icons do, with something deeply personal.
In the weeks leading up to the sale, the bag was exhibited in Paris and Hong Kong, drawing thousands of visitors. Over 270 collectors from 38 countries registered for the “Fashion Icons” auction, where Birkin’s bag was the star item.
The sale underscored the lasting appeal of fashion items with real, personal history behind them. Jane Birkin’s original bag wasn’t just a design prototype, it was a reflection of her style, personality, and influence. That connection helped turn the piece into something far more meaningful than just a luxury accessory.
Birkin, who passed away last year, was known for her lightheartedness, wit, and authenticity. Her namesake bag carried all of that, both literally and figuratively. With this sale, the Birkin enters a new chapter. Nearly 40 years after it was first made, it’s still making headlines and capturing imaginations.
