A Bag Made for Jane Birkin, the Late British Singer and Actress
Traces of Birkin's Daily Life Remain
The original Birkin bag actually used by the late British singer and actress Jane Birkin was sold at auction for approximately 13 billion KRW.
The original Birkin bag used by the late British singer and actress Jane Birkin was sold for the highest price ever in handbag auction history. Sotheby's website
According to CNN on July 10 (local time), a scratched and stained black leather Birkin bag was auctioned at Sotheby's in Paris, fetching 8.6 million euros (1,380,214,000 KRW) including fees. This marks the highest auction price ever paid for a handbag in auction history. The final bid before fees was 7 million euros (1,123,304,000 KRW). The winning bidder is reported to be Japanese.
This bag is the very first 'Birkin bag' created by the French luxury brand Herm?s specifically for Birkin. Jane Birkin is known to have favored this item from 1985 to 1994.
Morgan Halimi, Global Head of Handbags & Accessories at Sotheby's, described the auction as "an important milestone in the history of fashion and luxury." He added, "This event dramatically demonstrates collectors' desire for exceptional items with legendary provenance and unique origins," and said, "This sale is also a tribute to the enduring spirit and allure of Jane Birkin as a muse."
This particular Birkin bag is especially noteworthy for surpassing more glamorous subsequent models to set a new record. In 2022, Sotheby's sold a 'Diamond Himalaya Birkin' with white diamond embellishments for over $450,000 (619 million KRW), and in 2021, a crocodile Kelly bag was sold at a Christie's auction for about $390,000 (536 million KRW). Previously, the most expensive handbag was a Kelly bag made of diamonds and crocodile leather, which sold for about $513,000 (705.53 million KRW).
This Birkin bag has changed hands several times since Birkin first sold it in 1994 to raise funds for AIDS research. It was previously exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The recent auction was held after Sotheby's client 'Catherine B,' who won the bag 25 years ago, decided to put it up for sale again. Catherine B said, "Through this sale, I relived the vivid emotions of the bidding competition at the time and the overwhelming feeling when I acquired the bag."
According to Sotheby's, this bag differs in many ways from Birkin bags produced later. Elements such as its size, metal rings and decorations, and shoulder strap were specially made only once for Birkin and were never used in subsequent Birkin bags.
The front flap is engraved with Birkin's initials, 'J.B.', and a nail clipper she used frequently is attached to the shoulder strap. Birkin, who had a habit of regularly trimming her nails, always carried this item. The bag also bears traces of her daily life, such as marks from stickers of international humanitarian organizations M?decins Sans Fronti?res and UNICEF.
Halimi commented, "It is remarkable that a bag originally created for practical, personal use has, over time, become the most coveted luxury item in history," adding, "Its status will undoubtedly endure for a long time to come."
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