Hermes Birkin 30 Blue Ciel Swift Leather Bag
View Similar Items
Hermes Birkin 30 Blue Ciel Swift Leather Bag
About the Item
- Designer:
- Design:
- Dimensions:Height: 8 in (20.32 cm)Width: 5.5 in (13.97 cm)Length: 11.5 in (29.21 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:West Hollywood, CA
- Reference Number:Seller: HER0614041stDibs: LU47836989332
Birkin Bag
Since its 1984 debut, the Hermès Birkin bag has become a coveted status symbol as much as it has an exclusive collector’s piece. The handbag is among the most expensive in the world, and the appetite for the accessory is well-known inside and outside the fashion industry.
The history of the Birkin bag owes to a chance meeting on a flight from Paris to London in 1981, when British actress, singer and model Jane Birkin found herself describing her ideal handbag to another passenger. The two travelers hadn’t properly met, so it wasn’t immediately clear that she was practically brainstorming a future product with Hermès chairman Jean-Louis Dumas. When the latter identified himself, he told the star that Hermès was prepared to produce the accessory of her dreams. A discussion followed that involved rough sketches on an Air France airsickness bag, and the Birkin was introduced three years later.
A spacious and symmetrical rectangular bag that features dual handles as compared to the trapezoidal single-handle frame of the company’s popular Kelly, the Birkin has amassed a rabidly enthusiastic fan base since its inception.
Because it is so pricey and sought after, the goatskin-lined Birkin has frequently been targeted by counterfeiters, and its modest aesthetic and understated branding prevent it from being easily discernible from fakes. An array of metallic hardware fixtures, most often produced in gold or palladium, helps distinguish this dynamic handcrafted tote, and likely assisted the French police officers who broke up an international counterfeit Birkin operation in 2012.
Among the characteristics that are integral to determining a Birkin’s authenticity as well as rendering it a truly desirable collector’s item are the signature lock and accompanying keys. The latter are tucked inside a lanyard made from a single piece of leather and draped around one of the handles. There are scuff-resistant base studs, too — a defense system to shield the durable leather exterior from damage should its owner park it on a gritty sidewalk. The studs are hammered in and can’t twist off, so there isn’t any danger of the bag losing its feet.
Each tote is hand-sewn according to Hermès’s centuries-old saddle-stitching technique, and the exotic leathers — a variety that includes ostrich and crocodile — are subsequently painted and polished by house craftsmen in France. Owing to the artisan construction effort behind this globally adored accessory, it may take up to several days to produce a single Birkin bag.
Jane had to wait for hers, too.
Hermès
For Hermès, what began as a maker of leather equestrian goods for European noblemen would eventually grow into one of the most storied fashion labels in the world. In 1837, German-born French entrepreneur Thierry Hermès opened a saddle and harness purveyor in Paris. Gradually, the house extended into accessories and luggage for its riders, and today, in paying homage to its origins, the family-run luxury brand resurfaces horse motifs in everything from clothing and modernist jewelry to pillows and handbags.
The first top-handled bag ever produced by Hermès was the Haut à courroies, which made its debut in 1892. A tall bag secured with a folded leather flap (fastened with bridle-inspired straps), it was designed to transport riding boots and a harness.
As the world made the switch from horse to automobile, the bag adapted, becoming a multifunctional travel satchel instead of a designated saddlebag. Today, 120 years later, the HAC remains in Hermès’s line — and its distinctive flap and clasping straps have laid the groundwork for some of the house’s other iconic bags.
In the 1930s, Robert Dumas (son-in-law to Émile-Maurice Hermès, Thierry’s grandson) designed a smaller, trapezoidal take on the flap bag with a handle and two side straps. Later, actress Grace Kelly, then engaged to Prince Rainier of Monaco, is said to have used one of these bags to conceal her pregnancy during the 1950s. Because she was photographed constantly, the coverage catapulted her handbag to international popularity.
In 1977, Hermès officially renamed the model for her, and the Kelly bag was born. Each Kelly bag takes between 18 and 25 hours to produce, and its 680 hand stitches owe solely to one Hermès artisan.
Robert Dumas was also responsible for another one of the brand’s most iconic offerings: the launch of its first silk scarf on the occasion of Hermès’s 100th anniversary in 1937. Based on a woodblock designed by Dumas and printed on Chinese silk, the accessory was an immediate hit.
Today, vintage Hermès scarves, typically adorned in rich colors and elaborate patterns, serve many functions, just as they did back then. Well-heeled women wear it on their heads, around their necks and, in a genius piece of cross-promotion, tied to the straps of their Hermès bags. Kelly even once used one as a sling for her broken arm.
In 1981, Robert Dumas’s son Jean-Louis Dumas, then Hermès chairman, found himself sitting next to French actress and musician Jane Birkin on a plane, where she was complaining about finding a suitable carryall for the necessary accoutrements of motherhood. After the two travelers were properly introduced, Birkin helped design Jean-Louis’s most famous contribution to the Hermès canon: the Birkin bag, a roomy, square catchall with the HAC’s trademark leather flap top and the addition of a lock and key.
Owing to the brand’s legendary commitment to deft, handcrafted construction, the Birkin is an investment that is coveted by collectors everywhere.
While the Kelly and Birkin may be standouts, gracing the arms of everyone from royal heiresses to hip-hop stars in the past few decades, the handbags are but a small part of Hermès’s fashion offerings.
Since the 1920s, the brand has produced some of the most desirable leather goods in the world. There’s the Constance bag, a favorite of Jacqueline Kennedy, the recently relaunched 1970s-era Evelyne and, on the vintage market, a slew of designs dating back to the 1920s.
Good design never goes out of style. Find a variety of vintage Hermès handbags, day dresses, shoes and more on 1stDibs.
- New in Box Louis Vuitton Portofino On The Go Limited Edition BagBy Louis VuittonLocated in West Hollywood, CALouis Vuitton 2020 limited edition "escale" collection. Portofino ultra limited VIP edition. Brand new in box with original dust cov...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Top Handle Bags
$3,999 Sale Price20% Off - Hermes Birkin 35 Rouge H ClemenceBy HermèsLocated in West Hollywood, CAHermes birkin 35 rouge H clemence with palladium hardware, partial plastic on hardware. Excellent condition, date stamp L. Comes with clochette, tirett...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags
- New in Box Hermès 18cm Rose Mexico Picotin BagBy HermèsLocated in West Hollywood, CAHermès brand new in box collectible rose Mexico taurillon clemence leather picotin 18cm. Palladium hardware. Date stamp Y for 2020. Comes with original dus...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags
- 2018 New Rare Hermes Birkin 35 Vert Cypress OfficeirBy HermèsLocated in West Hollywood, CAHermes collectible officier Birkin 35 cm in vert cypress togo leather with blue zellige swift stripes and interiors. Palladium hardware. Date stamp C for ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
- Lady Dior Large Red Python BagBy Christian DiorLocated in West Hollywood, CAChristian Dior Python large Lady Dior bag in red. The handle drop is 4" and the shoulder strap drop 17". The bag has single zipper and one zip po...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
- Chanel Oversize Coral Caviar ToteBy ChanelLocated in West Hollywood, CAThis beautiful City bag from Chanel comes in a coral color which looks good with a business outfit as well as jeans. The handles have a drop of 7 inches so you can also wear it over ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Top Handle Bags
- 1960s Rosenfeld Italian Lucite Beaded Resort Hand Basket Purse W/ Lamé CrochetBy Harry Rosenfeld Made in ItalyLocated in Gresham, OR1960s Rosenfeld Italian Lucite Beaded Resort Hand Basket Purse W/ Lamé Crochet. Interior is gold satin with a kiss-clasp kangaroo-pouch pocket. Minor spotting, not noticable, in bott...Category
1960s Italian Top Handle Bags
- Unique Thespian Needlepoint Comedy and Tragedy Handbag c 1960Located in University City, MOUnique thespian needlepoint comedy and tragedy handbag The stylish large scale retro handbag is designed with comedy and tragedy mask on both exterior sides The theatrical masks are framed with leafy foliage The handle and sides are designed with olive green leather. The interior is lined in chartreuse taffeta with twin slip pockets and a zipper compartment The chic retro needlepoint handbag...Category
1960s American Novelty Bags
$245 Sale Price34% Off - Whimsical Quirky Astro Turf Wicker Handmade Basket Purse circa 1970Located in University City, MOWhimsical astroturf woven wicker handmade basket purse c 1970 The quirky one of a kind retro handbag is designed with an astroturf lid cover A mirror is placed on the center of the e...Category
1970s Unknown Novelty Bags
$145 Sale Price35% Off - 2008 Hermès Birkin 35 Togo Leather Toundra Top Handle BagBy HermèsLocated in Torre Del Greco, ITHermès handbag, Birkin model, size 35, made in toundra-colored togo leather with silver hardware. Equipped with the classic flap with interlocking closure and buckle. Complete with p...Category
Early 2000s Top Handle Bags
- Louis Vuitton Comédie Carousel L.E. Top Handle BagBy Louis VuittonLocated in Torre Del Greco, ITIconic Louis Vuitton bag, Comédie Carousel model, year of production 2010/2011, made in lurex fabric with inserts in leathers with gold hardware. ...Category
2010s Novelty Bags
- Hermès Birkin 35 Obscur CourchevelBy HermèsLocated in Torre Del Greco, ITBag by Hermès, Birkin model, size 35, made in Obscur color Courchevel leather, with gold hardware. Equipped with a flap with a classic padlock closure. Internally lined in leather, v...Category
1990s Top Handle Bags
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
How to Spot a Fake Hermès Birkin Bag
The iconic Birkin bag is much coveted — and often copied. Find out how to tell the real deal from a convincing fake. Of course, you don't have to worry about this on 1stDibs, where every seller is highly vetted.
These Custom and Rare Birkin Bags Are a Collector’s Dream
An Hermès Birkin might be on many fashion lovers' wish lists, but to the hardcore collector, one is never enough. For every kind of Birkin-phile, we present some of the most exclusive bags from our discerning dealers.