> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.artwalkway.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Seven Secrets of Jane Birkin’s Original Hermès Birkin Bag Unveiled at Sotheby’s Paris Exhibition
- URL: https://www.artwalkway.com/seven-secrets-jane-birkin-original-hermes-birkin-sothebys-paris/
- Published: 2024-10-12T19:25:00.000Z
- Updated: 2025-12-22T09:27:19.000Z
- Description: Sotheby’s Paris unveils seven unique design features of Jane Birkin’s original Hermès Birkin bag during the “Excellence à la Française” exhibition, showcasing this iconic piece of fashion history.
- Author: ART News
- Tags: Art Market Watch, Latest Art News

For the first time in France, Sotheby’s is showcasing Jane Birkin’s original Hermès Birkin handbag, a design born from a chance meeting between Birkin and Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas on a 1984 flight. As part of the “Excellence à la Française” exhibition—running October 12 to 31 at Sotheby’s new Paris headquarters—the world finally learns seven little-known design details that set this iconic bag apart from every Birkin made since.

The bag, loaned by Paris collector Catherine B., is more than a luxury item; it’s a piece of fashion history. Unlike later models, the original Birkin is a hybrid size with the width and height of a Birkin 35 but the depth of a Birkin 40—crafted to suit Birkin’s desire for a larger capacity, inspired by her habit of carrying a wicker basket.

Seven unique features distinguish the original:

- **Closed metal rings** reminiscent of the Hermès sac Haut A Courroies, later replaced by open rings.
- **Gilded brass hardware** predating the gold-plated finishes introduced in the mid-1980s.
- **A zipper from the “éclair” company**, before Hermès’ switch to Riri zippers in the 1990s.
- **Smaller bottom studs** than those on later Birkins.
- **A non-removable shoulder strap**, a design never repeated except for one limited edition in the 1990s.
- **A nail clipper on a chain inside the bag**, reflecting Birkin’s practical style.
- The bag’s condition bears **sticker marks from Birkin’s activism** with Médecins du Monde and UNICEF, making it a symbol of both fashion and conscience.

This exhibition marks the bag’s first appearance on French soil since previous displays at New York’s MoMA and London’s Victoria & Albert Museum.

Alongside the exhibition, Sotheby’s is running an online Handbags & Accessories auction featuring nearly 50 Birkins and other rare Hermès pieces, available for bidding through October 15.

Jane Birkin’s original Birkin is more than a bag—it’s an emblem of timeless style, artistic innovation, and cultural impact, now revealed in all its nuanced glory for the world to appreciate.

© ART Walkway 2025\. All Rights Reserved.