Authentic Hermes 90 Etoupe Grey/Black Constance Reversible H Belt iwj4551-1
View Similar Items
Authentic Hermes 90 Etoupe Grey/Black Constance Reversible H Belt iwj4551-1
About the Item
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Waist: 39 in (99.06 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Himeji, JP
- Reference Number:Seller: iwj4551-11stDibs: LU89534217913
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.
- Chanel Ruthenium Chain BeltBy ChanelLocated in Paris, FRSuperb ruthenium CHANEL chain belt fall winter 2008. One of the pearl is adorned with a CC mark. Length: 80 cm Width: 3.1 cm 7 channels ruthenium compound Loop metal ruthenium set w...Category
1980s French Belts
$1,506 - Chanel Vintage 90’s Runway Rhinestone CC Diamond BeltBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel Vintage Logo Rhinestone Belt Gold plated brass logo rhinestone belt from Chanel Vintage featuring a logo to the front Made in FranceCategory
1990s French Belts
- Vintage silver with gold tone leather swarovski stones beltLocated in Capri, ITVintage silver with gold tone leather swarovski stones belt size 85 cmCategory
1990s Italian Belts
$86 Sale Price20% Off - Lai Green Lizard Belt with Blue Enamel & Silver Metal Buckle MediumLocated in West Palm Beach, FLLai green lizard belt with silver green enamel and silver metal buckle, lined in tan leather, marked size medium. In very good pre owned condition. Measurements are in inches: Buckle...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Belts
- Massive Avant Garde Mixed Metal Leaf Belt c 1980sLocated in University City, MOMassive avant-garde mixed metal leaf belt c 1980s The artisan belt is designed with a trio of huge scale mixed metal leaves The large scale leaves range from silver metal, bra...Category
1980s Unknown Belts
$150 Sale Price38% Off - Vintage Givenchy Lucite & gold metal necklace or belt 1970sBy GivenchyLocated in West Palm Beach, FLVintage Givenchy Lucite & gold metal necklace or belt 1970s...Round tubes of Lucite with ribbed gold beads, gold metal chain with Givenchy logo tag, cl...Category
1970s Unknown Belts
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.