Hermes 18k Gold Buckle Brooch and Matching Leather Clutch
About the Item
- Creator:
- Metal:18k Gold,Yellow Gold
- Weight:24.8 g
- Dimensions:Width: 1 in (25.4 mm)Length: 1.75 in (44.45 mm)
- Place of Origin:France
- Period:1970-1979
- Date of Manufacture:Circa 1975
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Litchfield, CT
- Reference Number:
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Litchfield, CT
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
- Gingerbread Men Brooch 18k c1960sLocated in Litchfield, CTCirca 1960s, 18k, American. This utterly charming 1960s gingerbread men brooch is as rare as it is fun! Beautifully made in 18k yellow gold and set with s...Category
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
MaterialsEmerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Turquoise, 18k Gold
- Diamond Set Pinecone Brooch by Gubelin 18k c1940sBy GubelinLocated in Litchfield, CTCirca 1940s, 18k, by Gubelin, Swiss. Gubelin jewelry has a tasteful edginess that is great fashion, and vintage Gubelin is even more… This brooch is a ...Category
Vintage 1940s Swiss Retro Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Swiss Modern Sixties Turquoise and Gold BroochLocated in Litchfield, CTCirca 1960s, 18k, Swiss. This brooch is Swiss Modern chic at its sixties brutalist best! The organic, dimensional landscape is set with turquoise for a Gala meets the Met look. Perfe...Category
Vintage 1960s Swiss Modernist Brooches
MaterialsTurquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Magnificent Pearl and Diamond Set Gold Flower BroochLocated in Litchfield, CTCirca 1960s, 18k, French. This stunning jeweled flower is exquisite! Its compelling look is the result of sublime design work underscored by meticulous fabrication. The nuanced yello...Category
Vintage 1960s French Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, Pearl, White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Jade and Coral Holly BroochLocated in Litchfield, CTCirca 1950s, 14k, Vienna, Austria. This naturalistic sprig of holly has jade leaves and coral berries. Finely fashioned in fourteen-karat yellow gold, this brooch is a wearable size ...Category
Vintage 1950s Austrian Brooches
MaterialsCoral, Jade, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Amethyst and Jade "Forget Me Not" BroochLocated in Litchfield, CTCirca 1920s, 18k, Swiss. Spring has sprung for this lovely brooch! Vivid amethyst flowers cheerily open in full bloom, each enhanced by a brilliant diamond. The lush jade leaves and ...Category
Vintage 1920s Swiss Brooches
MaterialsAmethyst, Diamond, Jade, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Hermes, 18k Gold Leaf BroochBy HermèsLocated in London, GBAn 18k gold leaf brooch by Hermes Length: 5.5cm Weight: 26gr Origin: FrenchCategory
Vintage 1960s European Brooches
Materials18k Gold
- Hermès 18k Gold Knot Vintage BroochBy HermèsLocated in Beverly Hills, CAAn elegant Hermès knot brooch made of 18k gold. This vintage brooch is a discerning piece crafted by an expert of the knot-shaped jewelry. An emble...Category
Late 20th Century French Brooches
Materials18k Gold
- An 18k yellow gold flower brooch by Hermès.By HermèsLocated in KERKRADE, NLAn 18k yellow gold brooch by Hermès, shaped as a 3 dimensional flower. The brooch measures circa 5.9 by 4.5 cm. The brooch is marked with the French hallmark for 18k gold and a Fren...Category
Vintage 1970s French Brooches
MaterialsYellow Gold
- Dove Brooch, 18K GoldLocated in Leigh-On-Sea, GBDove Brooch Beautifully crafted dove Brooch with exceptional fine details, beautifully designed can be worn with a light weight necklace an aide memoire of Luke 3:22: ‘’And the Hol...Category
21st Century and Contemporary English Brooches
Materials18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Pearl 18k Gold BroochLocated in Geneva, CH18K yellow gold brooch centered by a cultured pearl. Length: 5.80 centimeters. Gross weight: 2.11 grams.Category
Early 20th Century European Brooches
MaterialsPearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- 18k Gold and Jade Squirrel BroochLocated in New York, NY18k Gold and Jade Squirrel Brooch It has eyes that are cabochon ruby an diamond and nose that is cabochon sapphire. Jade measurements is 11.68 mm x 1...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Contemporary Brooches
Materials18k Gold
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
The Hermès Passe-Guide Bag Might Not Be as Well Known as the Birkin or Kelly, But It’s Every Bit as Chic
Find out why this under-the-radar piece is so exceptional.
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.