Breaking World Records, Jane Birkin's Original Hermes Bag Sells IDR 162 Billion

JAKARTA Hermès Birkin's iconic handbag, privately owned by the late British actress and singer Jane Birkin, was officially sold in an auction in Paris for a fantastic price of 8.6 million euros or around Rp. 162 billion.

Of course, this managed to break the world record, because it is one of the most expensive mode items ever auctioned. This bag is not an ordinary Birkin, but the first prototype that was created specifically for Jane Birkin herself in 1984. With an initial auction offer of 1 million euros or Rp. 18 billion.

Then, intense competition took place between nine bidders by telephone, online, and live on the spot. The final offer was worth 7 million euros or Rp132 billion from a Japanese private collector who made the auction room boisterous with applause and cheers. However, this price does not include additional costs and auction taxes.

"This bag is truly the only one in the world, and is the most famous bag of all time," said auctioneer Sotheby's Paris, quoted from the AP News page.

This legendary bag has a unique story. Jane Birkin met Jean-Louis Dumas, led by Hermès at the time, on a flight from Paris to London in the early 1980s.

In a casual conversation after Jane's belongings spilled from her rattan bag. Then, he complained about the lack of large and functional bags for young mothers like himself.

Birkin then drew the design of his dream bag on top of the plane's vomit bag. Dumas listened and finally created the bag according to the sketch. Hermès then named him Birkin and made him a very exclusive commercial product.

This black leather bag is the only Birkin with a permanent shoulder strap, a feature that doesn't exist in the commercial version. On the front covering, there is a carving with the initials JB, complete with a nail scissors hanger, because Birkin is known to dislike long nails. This bag is also equipped with a gold-plated hardware and a buffer leg at the bottom.

"There is no doubt that Birkin's original bag is the only one and has grown into a pop culture icon that shows luxury in the most elegant way," said Morgane Halimi, head of fashion department and Sotheby's handbag.

Birkin kept this bag almost a decade before auctioning it off for AIDS charity in 1994. The bag then changed hands again in 2000 and was in a private collection until it was auctioned this year.

The previous owner, known only as Catherine B., said, "This bag has all the attributes of a star. The price paid is the price of the Hermès story itself."

Birkin's bag has surpassed its status as an ordinary fashion accessory. This luxury bag has appeared in films, music, television, to red carpets, and has become a symbol of the status and high taste among celebrities, artists, and world fashion figures.

"Birkin has evolved from a practical accessory to an icon of eternal culture." write an official statement from Sotheby's.