Do you think a handbag should ever be worth $10 million?
Jane Birkin’s Original Hermès Bag Sells for Record $10.1 Million
A prototype Hermès Birkin bag originally made for Jane Birkin just sold for a staggering €8.6 million (≈ $10.1 million) at Sotheby’s Paris, setting a European record for the highest-priced handbag ever auctioned. The historic item featured personal touches from Birkin herself, including her initials, stickers, and even a nail clipper attached. The sale ignited a fierce ten-minute bidding war, ultimately won by a Japanese collector. Jane Birkin, a British-French style and music icon who passed away in 2023, inspired the bag’s creation after a casual conversation on a flight. The auction underscores her enduring cultural significance and raises broader questions about the intersection of luxury, celebrity, and value.
Options
- Yes—it's fashion history
- Maybe—if it's iconic enough
- No—that's absurd
- Depends on who's buying