An Hermès Birkin handbag was the top lot, selling for £34,000, in Bonhams Designer Handbags and Fashion Sale on Wednesday 16 March, leading the department's most successful sale to date, achieving a total of £340,000, with a sell-through rate of 92%.
The shiny graphite porosus crocodile Birkin 30 handbag, dating from 2014, was the second most valuable example of the coveted model realised by Bonhams since the department launched in 2020. The highest-value Birkin sale for the department occurred last year when the handbag personally owned by Jane Birkin the songwriter, actress and model who inspired its creation, sold for £119,000.
More than a dozen Hermès handbags sold for £5,000 and above in last week's sale, with the brand's Birkin and Kelly designs dominating the top ten results.
Another impressive result was achieved by a 2007 Hermès Gold Togo Birkin 35 which sold for £14,000, above estimate, and a higher amount than the model is currently selling for in Hermès boutiques.
Other highlights included:
The Classic Chanel flap bags were popular with Bonhams bidders, with two examples featuring in the sale's top ten, selling for more than their top estimates.
A Blue Jean Caviar Medium Classic Double Flap Bag, 2005-6, and a 2011 White Caviar Maxi Double Flap Bag, both achieved £7,013, surpassing their pre-sale estimates.
A more unusual offering from Chanel, a limited-edition red carbon fibre Surfboard with three keels, decorated with the famous double C logo, sold at top estimate, realising £3,825.
Two early 20th century Louis Vuitton trunks sold for more than £5,000 each, with a c.1920 Yellow Vuittonite Wardrobe Trunk and a c.1926 Monogram Steamer Trunk both achieving £6,375.
Meg Randell, Head of Department, Designer Handbags and Fashion, said: "We are really delighted with this auction – which was by far our best yet in terms of hammer price, lot price and bidding engagement. This sale also attracted the largest number of registrants to date.
This success follows our single-owner white glove sale and we look forward to continuing this trend throughout the year."
The department's next live sale will be staged in Paris on 24 May. Contact [email protected] for further details.
23 March
NOTES FOR EDITORS
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and antiques, motor cars and jewellery. The main salerooms are in London, New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong, with auctions also held in Knightsbridge, Edinburgh, Paris, San Francisco and Sydney. With a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams offers advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com.
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