Why is Hermès so special?

Hermès is so special for a few reasons. The French luxury house is one of the most storied fashion labels in the world and has a rich heritage that dates back to 1837.Hermès began in Paris as a maker of leather equestrian goods for European noblemen. The house later 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 jewelry to pillows and handbags .Hermès artisans spend years honing their craft as apprentices before they produce Hermès pieces in premium materials. For example, the Kelly bag , which was named in tribute to one of its biggest fans, Grace Kelly, takes between 18 and 25 hours to produce , and its 680 hand stitches are made by one Hermès artisan. Each Birkin tote is also hand-sewn according to Hermès’s centuries-old saddle-stitching technique, and its exotic leathers , a variety that includes ostrich and crocodile , are subsequently painted and polished by house craftsmen in France.On 1stDibs, explore a selection of vintage Hermès handbags and accessories.

Hermes Vintage Shoulder Handbags

Kelly Sellier Hermes Gold Hardware

Hermes Sac

Hermes Box Leather Kelly Shoulder Strap

Gold Box Purse

Kelly Bag With Shoulder Strap

Hermes Bags And Purses

Hermes Kelly Bag 1999

Hermes Evelyne

$7,200

Vintage Hermes Hand-Painted Ropes Bucket Bag, 1970s Black Leather

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Vintage Hermes Hand Painted Ropes Bucket Bag in very good condition. Black box calf leather exterior with small holes and hand painted white ropes pattern throughout. Matching black ...

Category

1970s Hermes Vintage Shoulder Handbags

Hermes Kelly Bag 32 Box calf leather shoulder hand bag

$12,014

Hermes Kelly Bag 32 Box calf leather shoulder hand bag

By Hermès

Located in 10707, DE

It is in excellent condition except for the corners, which can be repaired by a handbag stylist upon request. The shoulder strap is in very good condition.

Category

1990s Hermes Vintage Shoulder Handbags

Rare 1990s Hermès Medor Black Leather Gold Stud Crossbody Shoulder Clutch Bag

Hermès clutch in grey suede leather, with removable shoulder strap.

By Hermès

Located in Paris, FR

Hermès clutch in grey suede leather, with removable shoulder strap. Good condition. 17cm x 24cm x 2cm

Category

1960s French Hermes Vintage Shoulder Handbags

Hermès Vibrato Pillow 219993 Red X Brown Leather Shoulder Bag

Unavailable

Unavailable

Hermes Brown Constance crocodile 23Cm Bag

By Hermès

Located in Castries, FR

Brown crocodile Constance Bag Hermès made in France 1978 Constance bag 23cm in crocodilus porosus gold, gold plate clasp "H" flap Adjustable strap With CITES Excellent c...

Category

1970s French Hermes Vintage Shoulder Handbags

H 6.3 in L 9.45 in

Sac Robidu - Hermés

Located in Milano, IT

A 1970, blue box leather and "H" canvans fabric. Brass details, one patch pocket and others two small pockets on the inside .

Category

1970s French Hermes Vintage Shoulder Handbags

Hermes Brown Box Calf Annie 2way Shoulder Clutch Bag 1970s

Unavailable

H 8.85 in W 9.25 in D 1.96 in

Hermes Brown Box Calf Annie 2way Shoulder Clutch Bag 1970s

By Hermès

Located in Hiroshima City, JP

Hermes Annie 2way shoulder bag. This is a rare vintage Hermes bag wearable as clutch or shoulder bag. A symbol of Hermes, H logo is placed in front of the bag. Main color : Br...

Category

1970s French Hermes Vintage Shoulder Handbags

Hermes Constance 24 Shoulder Bag brown/tan epsom leather with gold Hardware

Unavailable

Hermes Constance 24 Shoulder Bag brown/tan epsom leather with gold Hardware

By Hermès

Located in Berlin, DE

Iconic and timeless Hermes Constance 24 in brown epsom leather with gold hardware. It comes with original dust bag, original box and certificate of authenticity. Dimensions: 24 x 20...

Category

1990s French Hermes Vintage Shoulder Handbags

$6,000

H 9.85 in W 13.78 in D 7.09 in

HERMES Havane brown Clemence leather BOLIDE 45 Travel Bag

By Hermès

Located in Zürich, CH

Hermes "Bolide" travel bag in Havane (chestnut brown) Taurillon Clemence leather. Open with a zipper on top. Lined in leather and beige cotton. Has been carried with two small black ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Hermes Vintage Shoulder Handbags

Vintage 1950s Hermes "Sac G8" Handbag in Black Box Leather

$3,850

H 7.75 in W 9.38 in D 3.5 in

Vintage 1950s Hermes "Sac G8" Handbag in Black Box Leather

By Hermès

Located in Philadelphia, PA

A rare 1950s Hermes bag. By Hermes. In Black Box calf leather with gold plated hardware. In the rare G8 form. An elegant and practical take on the classic envelope bag, halfway b...

Category

1950s French Modern Hermes Vintage Shoulder Handbags

$16,750

1970 Hermes Black Supple Box Leather Kelly Bag

By Hermès

Located in Toronto, Ontario

Vintage black box leather 32cm supple Kelly bag with gold hardware. Dates from 1970, as told by the Z blind stamp. Top handle, lock and key fob. Very minor scuffing on surface on maj...

Category

1970s French Hermes Vintage Shoulder Handbags

Hermes Burgundy Taurillon Clemence Leather Evelyne TPM Crossbody Bag

$2,995

H 6.75 in D 2.25 in L 6.75 in

Hermes Burgundy Taurillon Clemence Leather Evelyne TPM Crossbody Bag

By Hermès

Located in New York, NY

Hermes Burgundy Pink Taurillon Clemence Leather Evelyne TPM Crossbody Bag Made In: France Year of Production: 2014 Color: Pink Hardware: Silvertone palladium Materials: Clemence lea...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Hermes Vintage Shoulder Handbags

Hermes Mini Herbag 20 in Ecru Ebene handbag

$5,135

Hermes Mini Herbag 20 in Ecru Ebene handbag

By Hermès

Located in London, England

Hermes Mini Herbag 20 in Ecru Ebene handbag. This Hermes Herbag Mini blends Ecru Beige Toile H canvas with Ebene Vache Hunter leather, elegantly accented by Hermes Herbag gold hardwa...

Category

2010s Hermes Vintage Shoulder Handbags

Borsa a Mano Hermès Picotin 18 Clemence Vert Anis

$3,893

H 6.89 in D 5.12 in L 7.09 in

Borsa a Mano Hermès Picotin 18 Clemence Vert Anis

By Hermès

Located in Torre Del Greco, IT

Borsa firmata Hermès, modello Picotin, misura 18, realizzata in morbida pelle Clemence con una finitura martellata al tatto. Questa raffinata borsa si distingue per il suo colore Ver...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Hermes Vintage Shoulder Handbags

$39,995

$1,295

Art Deco Evening Bag. Old Shanghai

Located in New York, NY

Shanghai in the 1930s was considered the Paris of the East. Here a European export frame has been partnered with an antique 19th Century golden metallic Chinese textile to create a c...

Category

Early 20th Century French Art Deco Hermes Vintage Shoulder Handbags

Alexander McQueen New Black Silk Dress with Ruffle Hem 'NO. 13' S/S 1999

$8,800

Size: 42

Alexander McQueen New Black Silk Dress with Ruffle Hem 'NO. 13' S/S 1999

By Alexander McQueen

Located in Water Mill, NY

A fabulous black silk dress from an early collection of Alexander McQueen. It skims the body has a scoop neckline and 3 rows of ruffles beginning at knee level in the front and 8 sta...

Category

1990s Italian Hermes Vintage Shoulder Handbags

Tom Ford for Gucci F/W 2002 Collection Alligator Wine Color Shoes Pumps 39.5 C

$1,495

Size: 39.5

Tom Ford for Gucci F/W 2002 Collection Alligator Wine Color Shoes Pumps 39.5 C

By Tom Ford for Gucci, Gucci

Located in Montgomery, TX

Tom Ford for Gucci Alligator Shoes Pumps F/W 2002 Collection Designer size 39.5 C Wine color alligator Gucci pointed-toe pumps with tonal cap-toes and stacked heels, Leather sole wit...

Category

Early 2000s Italian Hermes Vintage Shoulder Handbags

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Hermes Vintage Shoulder Handbags For Sale on 1stDibs

Browse a vast assortment of hermes vintage shoulder handbags for sale on 1stDibs. Many people prefer Black hermes vintage shoulder handbags, but fashion is all about individuality — you can find Brown, Gray and more options on these pages. If you’re looking for accessories from a specific time period, our collection is diverse and broad-ranging, and you’ll find some that date back to the 20th Century while other versions may have been produced as recently as the 21st Century. Finding accessories for sale for women should be easy, but there are 25 pieces available to browse for men as well as unisex, too.

How Much are Hermes Vintage Shoulder Handbags?

The prices for hermes vintage shoulder handbags start at $445 and top out at $58,646 with these items, on average, selling for $2,888.

Hermès for sale on 1stDibs

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.

Finding the Right Shoulder-bags for You

Ever since we’ve needed an accessory to carry our personal items when we’re on the go, shoulder bags have proven indispensable. Today, vintage and designer shoulder bags are such a treasured part of fashion history that they even get their own museum exhibitions. And while lovers of luxury handbags and purses are savvier now and have a wider range of shopping options, classics created by brands such as Louis Vuitton, Dior and Balenciaga still rule.

Prior to bags becoming an essential piece of any ensemble for any gender, women wore pockets strung on ribbons as garments that were separate from their gowns, accessible by openings in the fabric. Small handbags and handheld purses were developed before the accessory gained importance as functional and fashionable. Most had more in common with wallets than anything else.

While the bags of the 16th century warranted ornament, such as exteriors embroidered with silver-gilt thread and beads, it wasn’t until the late 18th century and early 19th century that the design and craft of bags had really broadened. Handheld purses were finished with details that were meant to garner attention, and bags were fitted with shoulder straps. A stylish shoulder bag meant that women could tote jewelry, cash and perhaps a decorative snuff box full of tobacco to an evening ball across town.

The early 1900s saw the introduction of gold and silver minaudières. The patenting of these compact bejeweled clutches has been attributed to revered French jewelry house Van Cleef & Arpels, and today they remain a fashion favorite. One of Judith Leiber’s innovative minaudières even earned a role in the movie Sex and the City.

A luxury shoulder bag is a work of art with a long, fascinating origin story, and entire brands and fashion lines have emerged around creating the perfect versions of shoulder bags and top-handle bags. For example, the iconic Hermès Kelly bag, which was popularized by actress Grace Kelly, is a widely coveted, collected and often faked entry from the handbag hall of fame. And while vintage Gucci tote bags have their own dedicated fan base, collectors are likely familiar with the Dionysus, a pared-down Gucci shoulder bag that manages to make a substantial statement anyway.

Embrace a classic look with a vintage shoulder bag designed by Chanel, Givenchy or Fendi — find yours on 1stDibs today.

Questions About Hermès

Why is Hermès so special?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 25, 2024
Hermès is so special for a few reasons. The French luxury house is one of the most storied fashion labels in the world and has a rich heritage that dates back to 1837.

Hermès began in Paris as a maker of leather equestrian goods for European noblemen. The house later 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 jewelry to pillows and handbags.

Hermès artisans spend years honing their craft as apprentices before they produce Hermès pieces in premium materials. For example, the Kelly bag, which was named in tribute to one of its biggest fans, Grace Kelly, takes between 18 and 25 hours to produce, and its 680 hand stitches are made by one Hermès artisan. Each Birkin tote is also hand-sewn according to Hermès’s centuries-old saddle-stitching technique, and its exotic leathers, a variety that includes ostrich and crocodile, are subsequently painted and polished by house craftsmen in France.

On 1stDibs, explore a selection of vintage Hermès handbags and accessories.

Beyond the Birkin: 10 Hermès Bags with ‘If You Know, You Know’ Appeal

What these styles lack in name recognition they more than make up for in cachet.

Dress Like Your Favorite NFL Player with an Hermès HAC Bag

Before the Birkin there was the Haut à Courroies, which has become the chic carryall of choice for the league's most stylish athletes.

This Hermès Picnic Garden Party Bag Is Elegant and Errand-Friendly

Does wicker get more high-end than this?

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.