Iconic Hermès Birkin Bag Auctioned for Record-Breaking 86 Million Euros

The first Hermès Birkin bag, designed for the illustrious Franco-British actress and singer Jane Birkin (1946-2023), was auctioned off for nearly 86 million euros this Thursday in Paris by Sotheby's. The identity of the buyer, who participated from Japan via phone, remains undisclosed. According to Sotheby's, this remarkable sale marks the second highest price ever paid for a fashion item at auction, following the iconic ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in "The Wizard of Oz" (1939), which sold for 325 million dollars (approximately 28 million euros) in 2024. This legendary Birkin model, made of black leather in 1985, exhibits signs of use, including remnants of glue from large UNICEF and Médecins du Monde stickers, and is engraved with the initials of its original owner, JB. The creation of this now-famous bag was the result of a serendipitous encounter between Jane Birkin and the then CEO of Hermès, Jean-Louis Dumas, aboard a plane in 1984. Birkin expressed frustration that elegant bags were often too small to meet the needs of a modern woman, particularly for those who are mothers. Dumas took on the challenge, and several months later, Hermès presented her with a bespoke bag. They requested permission to name the model after her. Over the years, Birkin, who was the partner of legendary French singer Serge Gainsbourg and mother to esteemed actress Charlotte Gainsbourg, carried the bag for almost a decade. In 1994, she donated it to a charity auction for AIDS research, where it fetched a mere 2,000 dollars. Subsequently, at another auction in 2000, French collector Catherine Benier acquired it for an undisclosed amount and later loaned it for several exhibitions. The monumental sale of 86 million euros sets a new standard in the fashion world, significantly eclipsing the previous high of 500,000 dollars for a Kelly model also from Hermès, which features crocodile leather, white gold, and diamonds, sold in 2021. Moreover, it surpasses the price of Princess Diana of Wales' black sheep sweater, which sold in 2023 for almost 1 million dollars. Jane Birkin's illustrious career began with her singing in London, but she rapidly gained fame as an actress after starring in the cult classic "Blowup" (1966) directed by Michelangelo Antonioni. The following year, she made Paris her home, where she became a music icon alongside Serge Gainsbourg with hits like "Je t'aime... moi non plus." Birkin also had notable roles in the films "Death on the Nile" (1978) and "Death on the Sun" (1982), both adaptations of Agatha Christie novels. Stay updated with El Huffpost for more noteworthy news. Follow all the latest updates from our mobile APP, available for both Android and iOS. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2