THE original Hermès Birkin bag has been sold for £8.6million — making it the most expensive handbag in the world.
The prototype of the iconic range of bags, auctioned in Paris yesterday, was owned by namesake Jane Birkin before her death aged 76 in 2023.
The bag was owned by namesake actress Jane Birkin, above, before her death aged 76 in 2023AFP
Hermès was inspired after the Sixties actress happened to sit next to its artistic director Jean-Louis Dumas on a plane.
Carrying all her items in a wicker basket, she complained handbags of the day were too small.
They began sketching designs on the back of a sick bag.
By 1985 Hermès produced a prototype and presented it to Birkin, asking permission to use her name for the bags.
Morgane Halimi, Sotheby’s global head of handbags and fashion, said: “The spectacular sale of the original Hermes Birkin today at Sotheby’s Paris marks an important milestone in the history of fashion and the luxury industry more widely.
“It is a startling demonstration of the power of a legend and its capacity to ignite the passion and desire of collectors seeking exceptional items with unique provenance, to own its origin.
“The Birkin prototype is exactly that, the starting point of an extraordinary story that has given us a modern icon, the Birkin bag, the most coveted handbag in the world.
“The sale of the original Birkin is also, ultimately, a celebration of the enduring spirit and appeal of its muse, Jane Birkin.”
The original is second-priciest fashion item behind The Wizard of Oz’s £24million ruby slippers.
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