According to E!, on 10/7, 9 collectors from around the world participated in an auction for Jane Birkin's Hermes Birkin bag. The auction, organized by Sotheby's, lasted 10 minutes and was conducted via phone, online, and in person. An anonymous buyer from Japan initially bid USD 7.2 million, then increased it to USD 7.6 million and USD 7.9 million before winning with a final bid of USD 10.1 million.

The Birkin bag is among the most expensive and famous handbags globally, created by Hermes chief executive Jean-Louis Dumas. In 1981, on a flight from Paris to London, Dumas happened to be seated next to the late British fashion icon Jane Birkin. She complained about her current bag and expressed her desire for a perfect leather bag for weekend outings.

Jane Birkin's original Hermes Birkin bag. Photo: *Sotheby's*

In 1984, Dumas created a black leather bag for Birkin based on an 1892 design. It was large enough to hold her belongings while remaining elegant. The bag was subsequently named after her and became a global phenomenon, beloved by women worldwide. Although Birkin later received four more bags from Hermes, she continued to use the original one before donating it to Association Solidarite Sida, a French AIDS charity, in 1994.

In 2000, Catherine Benier, owner of the vintage and secondhand fashion shop Les 3 Marches de Catherine B in Paris, purchased the bag at an auction. 15 years later, Birkin requested Hermes to remove her name from the crocodile skin version of the bag, believing its production caused the animals undue suffering.

Dubbed the "Original Birkin," this design has several distinct features compared to current Hermes Birkin bags. It has the height of a Birkin 40 but the length and width of a Birkin 35. Made of smooth, glossy black leather, it features a shoulder strap (absent in current versions), brass hardware instead of palladium or 18K gold, and a strap for attaching a nail clipper.

According to Sotheby's, the bag still bears traces of Birkin's use, with the initials "JB" on the front and her nail clipper still attached. Aurelie Vassy, head of handbags and accessories at Sotheby’s, stated in a press release: "It was the very first bag that Hermes delivered to Jane Birkin. This prototype is unique. There is no other bag like it."

Jane Birkin frequently graced the cover of Vogue. Photo: *Vogue*

Jane Birkin, born in 1946 in London, England, was a multi-talented actress and singer in the 1960s. She was known for her free-spirited style, often seen sporting a brunette bob. She had a knack for making basic items like shirts and jeans look effortlessly chic. She passed away in 2023 at her home in Paris, France.

Hoa Mi (*E!*)