Hermes one-of-a-kind 32cm Matte Geranium Porosus Crocodile and Black Togo Leather Sellier Kelly Bag with feet. Estimate $50,000-$100,000. Heritage Auctions image.
“All Hermès lovers have to hear is that this bag is one-of-one and they will know that it is an extraordinary piece,” said Matt Rubinger, director of luxury accessories at Heritage. “It was created as part of the whimsical and exclusive Petit H Exhibition and could be the most collectible bag in the world.”
The auction is one of the largest and most important sales that the luxury accessories market has ever seen. It will take place in Dallas, Texas, after a three-city tour and preview of the pieces.
LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.
The serious Hermès collector is sure to be drawn to the most impressive selection of ultraexclusive and popular bags from the fashion house that sets the bar for leather goods. Examples are a special order horseshoe 35cm Orange H, Vert Anis & Jaune Togo Leather Birkin Bag with palladium hardware, opening for bidding at $7,500 and a stunning limited edition Barenia & Shearling Kelly Muff Clutch Bag, opening for bidding at $2,000.
There will also be highlights of the most important creations from designer Marc Jacobs during his soon-to-be-ending tenure at the helm of Louis Vuitton.
“This is a major moment in the fashion world as Jacobs is stepping aside at Vuitton,” said Rubinger. “He’s done radical and amazing things with the brand and has everyone wondering what his legacy will be. To celebrate the groundbreaking work Jacobs did, we’ve put together a selection of his most famous pieces for Vuitton.”
The auction features the rare Louis Vuitton 2003 limited edition Eye Love Monogram by Takashi Murakami White Eye Dare You Overnight Bag. It is the most significant piece from his 2003 Eye Love Monogram Collection, with Takashi Murakami, and is opening for bidding at $2,000. The most sought-after piece from his Graffiti Collection in 2001, for which Jacobs collaborated with Stephen Sprouse, the Louis Vuitton 2001 limited edition Monogram Graffiti Speedy, is opening for bidding at $500. In addition, the 2012 Louis Vuitton Prune Ostrich Alma PM Bag with gold hardware is opening for bidding at $2,000 and represents another peak of Jacobs’ time with Vuitton.
For the client looking for a special gift for a loved one this holiday season, Rubinger and his team have curated a group of the ultimate gifts featuring several stunning pieces for the discriminating collector.
An electrifying Hermès 30cm Shiny Braise Porosus Crocodile Birkin Bag with palladium hardware could be the top gift under the Christmas tree, opening for bidding at $20,000, while a Chanel Shiny Dark Green Crocodile Timeless Clutch with silver hardware provides the cool counterpoint to the bright red birkin, and will look very attractive to the right collector with an opening bid of $1,500. A charming Judith Leiber Millennium limited edition Crystal New Year’s Eve Minaudiere Evening Bag is also included in the offerings, and comes with an opening bid of $1,000.
For newly identified collectors clamoring to enter the market, but who may not be ready to jump into a five-figure bag, there are examples at a wide range of price points.
“One of the best parts of taking this category to a wider audience has been the incredible response of people who have loved and bought handbags for years but never self-identified as collectors,” said Rubinger. “Now many of them are seeing that their love for handbags is justified – this is a viable, vibrant place to put investment level money right now. To that end, and for those collectors, we’ve put together a grouping of very nice bags that can possibly be gotten at more entry level prices, ranging from several hundred dollars to a few thousand, depending on where they are looking.”
One of the most hotly anticipated offerings in the section will be an Hermès 35cm Chocolate Epsom Leather Birkin Bag, with a starting bid of only $3,000. If the Birkin is not where a value collector is aiming, then the incredibly popular Chanel Stingray and Black Lambskin Leather Boy Bag, opening at $1,000, may be the right place to look, or possibly the Celine limited edition Large Gray Phantom Luggage Tote Bag with neon fluo orange trim, with an opening bid of $750.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
Hermes one-of-a-kind 32cm Matte Geranium Porosus Crocodile and Black Togo Leather Sellier Kelly Bag with feet. Estimate $50,000-$100,000. Heritage Auctions image. Hermes special order Horseshoe 35cm Shiny Amethyst & Graphite Porosus Crocodile Birkin Bag with gold hardware. Estimate: $60,000-$70,000. Heritage Auctions image. Louis Vuitton rare 2003 limited edition Eye Love Monogram by Takashi Murakami White Eye Dare You Overnight Bag. Estimate: $2,000-$3,000. Heritage Auctions image. Chanel Shiny Red Crocodile Classic Rigid Medium Single Flap Bag with gold hardware. Estimate: $8,000-$10,000. Heritage Auctions image.
