Antique Curiosity for Sale: Hermès Ivory Whale Skin Handbag

Article written by: Andre Sanchez
Posted on: March 9, 2010

If Hermès, the French luxury accessories and jewelry maker, were to be  summed up in one word, it would be “exclusivity”. As in having what even the “haves” can’t get at. The most famous handbag in the world, the Hermès Birkin, allegedly has a waiting list of over 2 years and a price tag that starts at $5,000, and goes up depending on style scarcity and materials. Many Hermès (pronounced “er-mesz”) bags are re-sold in consignment stores and on eBay for many times their original purchase price.

Imagine then if you had one of the rarest of the rare? Specifically, a Hermès Kelly bag made from 100% genuine whale skin. No word on whether it was a Moby or a Shamu or a Willy, just that it is “vintage”. This item is a relic from a time when accessories and apparel were made from not only whale skin, but other now endangered animals such as seal, leopard and otter.

The style is named after Princess Grace Kelly. Because of its prized design and history, the Kelly bag has attained a cult following who lust after owning the bag in every color, material, and size.

How much for this piece of history?  A cool 7 G’s.

Hermès was established in 1837 as a saddlery for Europe’s nobles, and eventually branched out into leather goods and then a high fashion house for clothing, fragrances and jewelry.

 

In case you were trying to figure out what to do with that extra $7k you had lying around, here’s the whale skin handbag’s features:

• Coordinating handle makes this bag easy to carry by hand and on the arm.
• The base has four gold feet to protect the luxurious leather with a gold spindle clasp to secure the top flap closure.
• Ivory Chevre Leather interior boasts one zippered pocket and two slide pockets.
• Bag is accompanied by a clochette and Hermès dust bag.

As described: “This rarest of bags remains in fair vintage condition. The exterior whale skin exhibits cracking and areas of discoloration, especially beneath the handle. Hardware is scratched/scuffed and worn. Interior exhibits significant discoloration/wear/markings“.

Due to massive counterfeiting, brand new Hermès can only be bought at an official boutique. “Pre-owned” Hermès items can be found on eBay or in consignment stores, but horror stories abound of either receiving a fake or the seller running off with the money. Portero is an online company that verifies authenticity of all their items, whether a Louis Vuitton suitcase or a Chanel suit.

Reader, how would you customize your Hermès bag? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments!