The highlight at Sotheby’s Paris auction yesterday was never in doubt. Titled Fashion Icons including the Original Birkin, the event featured pieces by Christian Dior, Pierre Balmain, and Alexander McQueen — but it was the prototype Birkin bag, presented by Hermès to Jane Birkin in 1985, that drew the most attention.
See also: Jane Birkin’s Original Birkin Bag Goes Under the Hammer
The Birkin is widely considered the most sought-after handbag in the world. Buying a new one typically involves a long wait, which is why collectors are increasingly turning to the auction market. Until yesterday, the highest price ever paid for a Birkin at auction was around €330,000 – a figure now overshadowed by the latest sale.
See also: It's Not a Bag, It's a Birkin: An Iconic Story
Sotheby’s had not disclosed a pre-sale estimate for the original Birkin. Bidding opened at €1 million and quickly climbed. The final bidding came down to two phone bidders, with the hammer eventually falling at €7 million – or €8.6 million including buyer’s premium (about £7.2 million) – after just six minutes.
Only a true icon could command such a price, and the original Birkin undoubtedly fits the bill. It’s a sale that cements its place at the pinnacle of fashion history.
