July 20, 2020: Luxury auction house Bonhams’ new Designer Handbags and Fashion department, which launched this year, held its inaugural Designer Handbags & Fashion sale, which provided a fitting end to Bonhams Luxury Week. The top lot of the sale was a 2012 Matt Geranium Alligator Birkin 35 by Hermès which achieved £25,062.
Head of Department Meg Randell commented; “I’m very pleased with the results of our first Designer Handbags and Fashion sale. We offered a wonderful curated selection showcasing luxury labels, including Hermès, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, and Gucci, so it’s no surprise that such desirable pieces attracted such competitive bidding.”
Other highlights include an early 20th century Louis Vuitton Monogram Wardrobe Trunk (including original hangars) which sold for £10,062. A 2006 Tourterelle Ostrich Leather Hermes Birkin sold for £8,812. A 2012-13 Cream Crocodile Jumbo Double Flap Bag by Chanel was auctioned for £7,562. A particularly beautiful 2017 limited edition Turner Neverfull MM by Jeff Koons for Louis Vuitton sold for £2,295.
In an intriguing direction, a recent Red PVC Keepall Bandoulière 50 by Virgil Abloh for Louis Vuitton was sold for £2,167. Virgil Abloh, who took over as director of menswear at Louis Vuitton in 2018, has been reinterpreting LV’s classic designs, such as the overnight Keepall bags, which have become extremely collectable.
