Hermes Kelly 32 Toile Rouge

About the Item
- Designer:
- Design:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:
Kelly Bag
In 1837, Thierry Hermès (1801–78) founded his eponymous luxury goods company in Paris as a saddle manufacturer, serving the era’s carriage trade. In 1880, under the stewardship of Thierry's son Émile-Charles, fine riding gear was added to its offerings to complement the saddles. The company expanded their workshops to design handbags nearly half a century later. The Kelly bag, originally introduced as the Sac à dépêches (“the dispatch bag”) in 1935, was created by Robert Dumas, son-in-law to Thierry's grandson Émile-Maurice Hermès.
Designed for independent women who wanted a piece that was both luxurious and efficient, the Kelly bag has a trapezoid shape, two triangular gussets, a sculpted flap and handle. To this day, the understated bag comprises 36 individual leather pieces, 16 studs and a signature padlock and leather key cover, with three layers of leather at the base to ensure the bag can stand upright. Each Kelly bag takes between 18 and 25 hours to produce, and its 680 hand stitches owe solely to one Hermès artisan.
The Kelly bag earned its name during preproduction on Alfred Hitchcock’s 1955 film, To Catch a Thief. Costume designer Edith Head sourced products from Hermès to outfit actress Grace Kelly, who fell in love with the Sac à Dépêches and continued to carry it long after the movie wrapped. Months after marrying Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956, she was spotted carrying a brown pigskin Sac to shield her pregnancy from the paparazzi. And while the oft-repeated claim that Kelly and her bag appeared on a Life magazine cover isn’t true, photography of the actress and her cherished accessory began to appear everywhere at the time, and the bag’s profile suddenly skyrocketed.
In 1977 Hermès officially changed the item’s name to the Kelly bag. Less than a decade later, Hermès introduced another handbag to its line, also named after a style symbol, the Birkin bag. The Paris-based British actress Jane Birkin sat next to Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas — Robert's son — on an Air France flight. He noticed her overflowing handbag, and she told him she longed for “a handbag that is bigger than the Kelly but smaller than Serge’s suitcase,” in reference to her then-romantic partner, the French musician Serge Gainsbourg. The Birkin bag was created in 1984, joining the Kelly in Hermès’ permanent collection.
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: London, United Kingdom
- Return Policy
This item cannot be returned.
- Prada Black and Orange Nylon pouchBy PradaLocated in London, GBPerfectly sized to fit your makeup collection or for weekends away. This pre-owned Prada cosmetic pouch has been designed from black nylon and fea...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags
- Hermès 50cm Kelly Relax With PHWBy HermèsLocated in London, GBLarge and in charge, this is a truly spectacular find. With 50cm worth of space, this Kelly Relax is the perfect travel bag. With a large top handle, four ...Category
2010s Top Handle Bags
- Hermès Clemence Leather 34cm LindyBy HermèsLocated in London, GBThis Hermès 34cm Lindy bag, first released in Spring/Summer 2007 show, features two different versions of shoulder straps and two exterior slip pockets. It o...Category
2010s Top Handle Bags
- Hermès Micro Lucky Daisy PicotinBy HermèsLocated in London, GBIntroducing the Hermès Micro Lucky Daisy Picotin, where playful meets luxury. This SS 2022 collection feature attracts attention with the eye-catch...Category
2010s Clutches
- Hermès Vintage Mini Kelly 20 Sellier Shiny Black GHWBy HermèsLocated in London, GBExperience timeless luxury with this exquisite Vintage Mini Kelly 20 Sellier, crafted from sleek black shiny croc leather and finished with shimm...Category
1990s Top Handle Bags
- Hermès Birkin 30 Tri-Colour Ghillies PBHWBy HermèsLocated in London, GBFeel the exclusivity of the limited-edition Tri-Colour Ghillies 30cm Birkin PBHW bag. Its luxuriant trio of Marron, Etrusque, and Mousse colours are crafted from the finest leather, ...Category
2010s Top Handle Bags
- Balenciaga Cream Leather The Day One Hobo Bag 18ba53sBy BalenciagaLocated in Dix hills, NYDate Code/Serial Number: 140442-2577 213048 Made In: Italy Measurements: Length: 16" Width: 4.5" Height: 13.5" Handle Drop: 3.5" OVERALL GOOD+ CONDITION ( 7.25/10 or B+ ) Acces...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags
- Dior Brown Monogram Trotter Boston Bag 60d628sLocated in Dix hills, NYMade In: France Measurements: Length: 11.5" Width: 6" Height: 8" Handle Drop: 4.5" OVERALL GOOD VINTAGE CONDITION ( 6.75/10 or B- ) Signs of Wear: Exterior Canvas: Very Minor ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags
- Gucci Beige Guccissima Leather GG Medium Sukey Hobo 74gz429sBy GucciLocated in Dix hills, NYDate Code/Serial Number: 211944 200047 Made In: Italy Measurements: Length: 14" Width: 4.5" Height: 13" Handle Drop: 6.5" OVERALL VERY GOOD CONDITION ( 8/10 or AB ) Accessories...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags
- Louis Vuitton Murray Mini 871016 Green-gold Monogram Vernis Leather BackpackBy Louis VuittonLocated in Dix hills, NYWidth (inch) : 10.2 inch(approx) Width (cm) : 26 cm(approx) Height (inch) : 7.48 inch(approx) Height (cm) : 19 cm(approx) Depth (inch) : 3.93 inch(approx) Depth (cm) : 10 cm(app...Category
20th Century Top Handle Bags
- Gucci Boston Monogram Gg Crystal Joy 5a610 Brown Gold Coated Canvas SatchelBy GucciLocated in Dix hills, NYMeasurements: 12.5" L x 7" W x 9" H Interior Pockets: One flat pocket Handles: Double rolled leather handles Handle Drop: 5" Closure/Opening: Single zip closure Interior Lining:...Category
20th Century Top Handle Bags
- Stuart Weitzman Gold Metallic Lace Ribbon 114misa1025 Beige Shoulder BagBy Stuart WeitzmanLocated in Dix hills, NYMade In: China Measurements: Length:11" Width:4.5" Height:11.6" Shoulder strap drop: 9.5" Signs of Wear: Scuffs and visible stains on the exterior. Scratches and scuffs on the har...Category
20th Century Top Handle Bags
- Backstage Balmain Floral Shawl, 1954By Mark ShawLocated in New York, NYBackstage Balmain Floral Shawl -- Backstage at the 1954 Pierre Balmain Couture show. Image size is 10" x 15" (for 11" x 17" paper size). All Mark Shaw pr...Category
1950s Modern Color Photography
MaterialsGiclée
- Pierluigi Spadolini for 1P 'Boccio' Dining or Center Table in Red ResinBy Pierluigi SpadoliniLocated in Waalwijk, NLPierluigi Spadolini for 1P, 'Boccio' dining table, polyurethane resin, Italy, 1972 This dining or center table is designed by Italian architect and designer (1922-2000) Pierluigi ...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsResin
- Contemporary Gaetano Pesce Nugget XXL Vase Resin Clear BlueLocated in barasso, ITNugget vase, clear blue. Vase in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. Measures: XXL - ø 36cm x H 70cm Colours: clear blue. Other sizes available....Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Arts and Crafts Vases
MaterialsResin
- Verdura Gold Beehive Watch Charm BraceletBy VerduraLocated in Palm Beach, FLVerdura 18kt yellow gold rope-twist link bracelet with beehive motif watch charm pendant in 18k yellow gold. The watch pendant measures 25 x 20mm. White lacquered watch dial with "VEDURA" in black and gold dot...Category
2010s Unknown Modern Wrist Watches
MaterialsYellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
- Lladró Equus Pedestal Bowl by Bodo SperleinBy Lladro, Bodo SperleinLocated in New York City, NYWhite glossy porcelain fountain designed by Bodo Sperlein from the Equus collection. This fountain is part of the Equus series, one of the most innovative and bold projects of Lladró...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsPorcelain
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More

This Iconic Hermès Bag Is Made from an Unexpected Material: Wood
From a house that specializes in covetable objects, this version of the Kelly is the rarest of finds.

A Short History of the World’s Most Iconic Designs
Of the million-plus items on 1stdibs, some seem to have transcended time, looking as fresh today as when they were first produced. The pieces highlighted on our new Iconic Designs page stand out for longevity, functionality and quality of design and manufacture — just the tonic for the present unsettled moment.
The 1stDibs Promise
Learn MoreExpertly Vetted Sellers
Confidence at Checkout
Price-Match Guarantee
Exceptional Support
Buyer Protection
Trusted Global Delivery