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.

What is a Hermes Picotin?

A Hermes Picotin handbag is one of the brand’s signature bags with a minimalist approach that was inspired by a horse’s feedbag. The name comes from a French term for the amount of oats given to a horse to eat. This is an unlined bag, very simple and understated. Shop a collection of vintage and new Hermes bags, clothing and accessories from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.

Hermes Picotin Handbags

Hermes Orange Clemence

22 Tote

Unavailable

H 8.5 in W 9 in D 7 in

Hermes Picotin Lock Bag Tressage Epsom MM

By Hermès

Located in NY, NY

Condition: Excellent. Slight creasing on exterior, faint scratches on hardware. Accessories: Keys, Lock Measurements: Handle Drop 6", Height 8.5", Width 9", Depth 7" Designer: Hermes...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Hobo Bags

Hermes Picotin Lock Bag Tressage Epsom MM

Unavailable

H 8.5 in W 9 in D 7 in

Hermes Picotin Lock Bag Tressage Epsom MM

By Hermès

Located in NY, NY

Condition: Good. Loss of shape, wear, scuffs and small marks on exterior and handles, indentations on handle wax edges. Moderate discoloration on interior opening trim, scuffs, marks...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags

Hermes Picotin 18 Palladium Hardware Sesame Cargo

Unavailable

Hermes Picotin 18 Palladium Hardware Sesame Cargo

By Hermès

Located in Flushing, NY

Certified Authentic Condition: Brand New Origin: France Collection: Z Dimension: 7 x 5 x 7.5 in; Drop 5 in Accompanied by: This item comes with all accessories

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags

Unavailable

H 4.73 in W 4.73 in

Sold

H 18 in D 18 in

Hermes Picotin Bag

By Hermès

Located in London, GB

Obtain the effortless appeal of the Hermès Picotin handbag. This petite model features a highly grained Clemence leather in the brand’s iconic Orange hue.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Tote Bags

Hermès Picotin Lock18 Handbag - '20s

Sold

Size: One Size

Hermès Picotin Lock18 Handbag - '20s

By Hermès

Located in Milano, Lombardia

The Picotin bag was born to be minimalist. The center seam has a unique softness that sublimates the material which is Clemence leather. The amplitude of the Picotin can be adjusted ...

Category

2010s Top Handle Bags

Sold

Hermes Etoupe Picotin GM Bag

By Hermès

Located in Athens, GA

Hermes Etoupe Picotin GM Bag. Excellent like new condition. Beautiful light grey color bag. Palladium hardware. Larger GM size bag. Beautiful leather from Hermes. Don't miss out on t...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

Hermès Small Picotin Gris Tortorelle

Sold

$3,001

H 9.45 in W 3.55 in L 11.82 in

Hermes Yellow Togo Leather Tsako Bag

By Hermès

Located in Paris, FR

Hermes "Tsako” Yellow togo leather shoulder bag featuring a cotton shoulder handle, a logo fastening strap with a fastening snap, gold-tone hardware. Circa 1988 In good vintage co...

Category

1980s French Tote Bags

Hermès bag 'Piano'

By Hermès

Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR

HERMÈS - (Made in France) 'Piano' bag made of golden Courchevel leather and marled H canvas, with a gold-plated fastener on a flap, and a shoulder strap. A design circa 1950-1960. C...

Category

1950s French Structured Shoulder Bags

Hermès Black Leather Diane Bag 1989

$2,400

New $24.000 Gucci Crocodile Dusty Turquoise Top Handle Shoulder Strap Medium Bag

By Gucci

Located in Montgomery, TX

New Gucci Crocodile Bamboo Top Handle Bag with Shoulder Strap F/W 2017 Collection, Size Medium. Dusty Turquoise Crocodile Leather, Top Handle Bag with Removable Crocodile Shoulder St...

Category

2010s Italian Top Handle Bags

New Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent YSL Lotus Heels Final Collection 2004 Sz 37

$1,650

$1,295

Size: 46 / US 10

Vintage Missoni Spring 2004 SZ 46 2000s Fully Sequin Blue Y2K Knit Halter Dress

By Missoni

Located in San Diego, CA

Never worn early 2000s MISSONI fully sequined striped knit halter dress ! Features vibrant colors of blue, turquoise, navy blue and yellow throughout. Thousands of hand-sewn clear se...

Category

Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses

Chanel Green Alligator Rare Vintage Mini Minuadiére Kelly Top Handle Bag

$220,900

H 8.5 in W 7 in D 2.5 in

Chanel Green Alligator Rare Vintage Mini Minuadiére Kelly Top Handle Bag

By Chanel

Located in Miami, FL

Green Chanel Alligator Mini Top Handle "Kelly" Flap with Classic CC Turnlock Closure 1997 {VINTAGE 29 Years} Gold Hardware Alligator Leather Interior zipper pocket Black Lambskin in...

Category

1990s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières

HERMES Parchemin cream OSTRICH KELLY POCHETTE Bag Phw

$47,500

HERMES Parchemin cream OSTRICH KELLY POCHETTE Bag Phw

By Hermès

Located in Zürich, CH

100% authentic Hermès Kelly Pochette clutch in Parchemin ostrich with palladium hardware. Crafted from rare, full-quill ostrich leather in a luminous Parchemin cream, this Hermès Kel...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags

Black leather bag with embossed monogramme and double strap LOUIS VUITTON

$3,751

H 6.7 in D 3.55 in L 8.67 in

Black leather bag with embossed monogramme and double strap LOUIS VUITTON

By Louis Vuitton

Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR

Black leather bag with embossed monogramme and double strap, one in gold metal chain, one in detachable leather. Orange suede lining. Zip closure on the top front with branded zip pu...

Category

2010s French Structured Shoulder Bags

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Hermes Picotin Handbags For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, there are many options to choose from in our collection of hermes picotin handbags. If you’re looking for black hermes picotin handbags and you’re unable to find the right fit, there are plenty of variations in brown, orange and more. 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. If you’re browsing our inventory for these accessories, you’ll find that many are available today for women, but there are still pieces to choose from for men and unisex.

How Much are Hermes Picotin Handbags?

Prices for hermes picotin handbags can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $1 and can go as high as $39,775, while these items, on average, fetch $4,515.

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 Handbags And Purses for You

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.

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.
What is a Hermes Picotin?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
A Hermes Picotin handbag is one of the brand’s signature bags with a minimalist approach that was inspired by a horse’s feedbag. The name comes from a French term for the amount of oats given to a horse to eat. This is an unlined bag, very simple and understated. Shop a collection of vintage and new Hermes bags, clothing and accessories from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.

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.