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Hermès Bags Inspired By Film Beauties Lead a $1.2 Million Paris Sale

artinfo.com

2010.11.17

PARIS— Artcurial's semiannual Hermès vintage sale is an unusually warm and affable affair, where long-time lovers of the luxury brand who return season after season have gotten to know their fellow auction-goers. Many items are not priced excessively, so even someone with pockets of average depth can afford to indulge in a little leather case or a pair of gloves. The big fall auction that raked in €904,000 ($1.2 million) last week had impressive hauls, affordable treasures, and surprising items from Hermès history.

The 637 lots had a sell-through rate of 89.5 percent, with the top lot, a blue crocodile Birkin bag, selling for €37,714 ($52,640). Crocodile Birkin bags were the stars of the show, in fact, with a pale green model scoring €35,236 ($49,181) and a black number fetching €27,801 ($38,804) — even outperforming the jewelry, with a yellow gold Vendôme necklace selling for a comparatively slight €11,476 ($16,018). A white gold and diamond ring netted €2,805 ($3,915), the same price attained by a white calfskin Kellybag of "average condition" with "wear and tear," according to the catalogue.