Antique And Vintage Handbags

There is a broad range of antique and vintage handbags for sale on 1stDibs. Our collection of antique and vintage handbags includes a variety of colors, spanning black, brown, gray and more. Making the right choice when shopping for these accessories may mean looking at versions that date from different eras — you can find early iterations from the 19th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century, all of which have proven very popular over the years. Antique and vintage handbags such as these have likely been a part of the legacy of many fashion designers, but those produced by Chanel, Hermès and Louis Vuitton are consistently popular. When shopping for these accessories, you’ll find that there are less available pieces for men or unisex today than there are for women.

On average, antique and vintage handbags on 1stDibs sell for $1,481, while they’re typically $55 on the low end and $36,609 for the highest priced versions of these items.

An integral part of fashion, handbags and purses have been indispensable accessories ever since we began to carry around personal items. Level of craftsmanship, style and shape matters — from coin purses in ancient Greece to early 20th-century opera bags and onward, handbags have evolved considerably over the years to meet our needs and desires, whether or not you happen to be prioritizing functionality over a flashy exterior.

Once, a single “It” handbag ruled each fashion season. No more. Today, lovers of vintage handbags are savvier and have a wider range of shopping options. Nevertheless, classics created by the likes of Louis Vuitton, Dior and Balenciaga still rule.

“It is not a fashion bag — it is a statement bag,” says Mightychic's Debra Kent of Hermès's widely beloved accessories. “When you carry an iconic Hermès bag — Birkin, Kelly, Constance — no one knows how long you have been into this culture or if you are a newbie. Your status is validated immediately.”

First released in 1997, Fendi's Baguette rose to fame along with Carrie Bradshaw, the Sex and the City character portrayed by Sarah Jessica Parker. Recently, the design has seen such a resurgence in popularity that Fendi has reissued it.

They are part of design history, so owning a handbag has meaning. As New York–based fashion historian Sarah C. Byrd says, “You have made the choice to invest in this piece because you understand the value of it in the past and in the future to come.”

From a 1980s Chanel black leather quilted mini buckle bag to the rare Hermès Birkin 30cm Himalayan with diamond hardware to a range of 19th-century bags, find a rich variety of vintage and designer handbags and purses spanning numerous brands on 1stDibs — seasonal “It” designation no longer needed.