Jane Birkin's Birkin Bag Sells for €8.6 Million, Becoming Europe's Most Expensive
Jane Birkin's Birkin Bag Sells for €8.6 Million, Becoming Europe's Most Expensive
A unique handbag, custom-made for British singer and actress Jane Birkin by Hermès, has sold in Paris for a record €8.6 million (£7.4 million).
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| Jane Birkin's Birkin Bag |
This makes it the most expensive fashion accessory ever sold at auction in Europe.
History of the Bag and Record Sale
France's favorite "Little Englishwoman," as Birkin was nicknamed, had used the original, battered Birkin for nine years, still bearing the marks of her signature stickers on its black leather. This example of the bag from the French luxury goods company was expected to fetch a six-figure sum. However, bidding at Sotheby's began at €1 million, surprising those on hand, and prices quickly soared during a 10-minute battle between nine bidders, some bidding by phone and online.
Buyer and Sale Comments
Sotheby's said on Thursday that the winner was a private collector from Japan, adding that the "exceptional" price made the bag the second-most expensive fashion item ever sold at auction and the most valuable in Europe.
Morgane Halimi, Sotheby's global head of handbags and fashion, commented that the sale was "a stunning testament to the power of legend and its ability to ignite the passion and desire of collectors seeking exceptional pieces with a unique provenance." Halimi added that the Birkin model was "the starting point of an extraordinary story that has given us a modern icon, the Birkin, the world's most coveted handbag." She described the sale as "a celebration of the enduring spirit and charisma of its muse, Jane Birkin," who died in 2023.
The bag's last owner, Catherine B., who did not disclose how much she paid for it, said she was astonished by the outcome but also "deeply moved by the way others have invested so much passion in an attempt to acquire what they desired beyond words."
The Birkin Bag Story and Details of the Original Model
The "Le Birkin" bag, which sells for thousands of pounds new and hundreds of thousands used, came about after a chance meeting between Birkin, known outside France for her sensational song "Je T'aime Moi Non Plus," and Hermès president Jean-Louis Dumas on a plane. The British-born singer and actress, who appeared in some 70 films and for more than a decade formed half of France's most famous celebrity duo with singer-songwriter Serge Gainsbourg, told Dumas she couldn't find a bag large enough for her needs.
The prototype bag bears the embossed lettering JB. It is a different size from later production models and features a shoulder strap and brass details, which were later replaced with gold-plated loops, fasteners, and "feet."
The world record for the most expensive fashion accessory sold at auction is $32.5 million (£24 million), paid in 2024 for a pair of ruby-red shoes worn in The Wizard of Oz.
