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Handbags & accessories are always winners

(L-R) Hermès 2009 - Graphite, rouge h & amethyst swift leather & porosus crocodile petit h robot bag with gold & permabrass hardware, price realized: $16,250, Hermès 1994 - A rare, matte white Himalaya Niloticus crocodile Birkin 30 with palladium hardware, price realized: $150,000 and Hermès 2019 - A rare, bleu marine, white & orange madame calfskin leather, swift leather, sombrero leather, Epsom leather & matte alligator faubourg Sellier Birkin 20 with palladium hardware price realized: $200,000

Online auctions have attracted over 40 percent first-time registrants and 34 percent new bidders in the accessories section says a leading global auction house

ByIANSlife Features

August 4, 2020 (IANSlife) If you thought for one second that the lockdown has people chilling in sweatpants, and not in the least bothered about shopping and luxury accessories, think again! Collectors are having a field day with online exhibits in art, wine and believe it or not fashion accessories. 

Christie’s online sale tilted 'Handbags & Accessories: Summer in the City' proves just that. The New York sale which took place from the 14-28 July totalled at $2,266,750, achieving the highest total for an online Handbags sale at Christie’s, with 88 percent sold by lot and 117 percent hammer compared to the low estimate. There was global participation with registered bidders from 29 countries and the sale attracted over 40 percent first-time registrants and 34 percent new bidders.

 

(L-R) Hermès 1994 - A rare, soleil calfbox leather mini kelly 20 with gold hardware price realized: $32,500 and Hermès 2019 - A limited-edition rouge de Coeur swift leather & osier mini picnic kelly 20 ii with palladium hardware price realized: $56,250.
(L-R) Hermès 1994 - A rare, Soleil calf box leather mini kelly 20 with gold hardware price realized: $32,500
and Hermès 2019 - A limited-edition rouge de Coeur swift leather & osier mini picnic kelly 20 ii with palladium hardware price realized: $56,250.

 

The top lot of the sale was an extremely rare Hermès Diamond Himalaya Birkin 25—the first-ever offered in a New York online sale—which realised $300,000, setting a new record for a handbag sold in the U.S. and the highest price achieved for a handbag sold in any online-only auction. 

 

Stalvey, 2019 - A shiny yellow alligator top handle mini 2.0 with gold hardware price realized: $5,000
Stalvey, 2019 - A shiny yellow alligator top handle mini 2.0 with gold hardware price realized: $5,000

 

Other notable results included a rare matte white Hermès Himalaya Birkin 30, which sold for $150,000; a delightful Hermès Mini Picnic Kelly 20 II that sold for $56,250; and a highly sought after limited-edition Hermès Bleu Marine Faubourg Birkin 20, which sold for  $200,000 against a low estimate of $80,000. Additionally, strong prices were achieved for artist collaborations, Chanel runway accessories, and Louis Vuitton Virgil Abloh designed limited edition pieces.

 

 

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IANSlife Features can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in

Formatting & Picture editing by N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe

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