Hermès Kelly II Sellier 28cm Gold Veau Epsom PHW
About the Item
- Designer:
- Dimensions:Height: 8.47 in (21.5 cm)Depth: 4.73 in (12 cm)Length: 11.03 in (28 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:
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 PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
- Hermès Birkin 25cm Noir Lezard Niloticus Lisse PHWBy HermèsLocated in London, GBAn alluring Hermès Exotic Birkin 25cm handbag. The exterior of this exotic Birkin is in shiny Noir Lezard Niloticus Lisse with tonal stitching. It adorns...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
- Hermès Kelly Mini II Tricolore Verso Craie/Mauve Pale/Gold Veau Epsom PHWBy HermèsLocated in London, GBA gorgeous Hermès Kelly Mini II Tricolore Verso handbag. The exterior of this Kelly Mini features Craie, Mauve Pale and Gold Veau Epsom leather and is compl...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
- Hermés Kelly II Sellier 25cm Mauve Pale Veau Epsom PHWBy HermèsLocated in London, GBA gorgeous Hermès 25cm Kelly bag. The exterior of this Kelly features a Sellier style in Mauve Pale Veau Epsom leather. The Mauve Pale Epsom leather is comp...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
- Rare Hermès Birkin 25cm Gris Caillou Grizzly/ Gris Meyer Swift PHWBy HermèsLocated in London, GBA rare Hermès Birkin 25cm handbag. The Grizzly Birkin is the namesake edition designed to showcase Veau Doblis Suede. The exterior of this Birkin is cra...Category
2010s French Top Handle Bags
- Hermés Kelly Sellier 25cm Vert Verone Veau Epsom GHWBy HermèsLocated in London, GBA gorgeous Hermès 25cm Kelly bag. The exterior of this Kelly features a Sellier style in Vert Verone Veau Epsom leather. The Vert Verone Epsom leather is complemented with gold-tone hardware and tonal stitchings. It features a front toggle closure with two straps, a single rolled handle and a removable shoulder strap. The interior is lined with Vert Verone leather and has one zip pocket with an Hermès engraved...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
- Goyard White Mini Saigon Souple BagBy GoyardLocated in London, GBA sophisticated Mini Saigon handbag by Goyard. The exterior is crafted in the white signature Goyardine coated canvas with a wooden handle and foldover front lock that gives this bag...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
- Fendi Monogram Blue PochetteLocated in New York, NYLength: 11 Inches Height: 6 Inches Material: CanvasCategory
1990s Top Handle Bags
- Moschino vintage black heart bagBy MoschinoLocated in CAPELLE AAN DEN IJSSEL, ZHMoschino 90’s Vintage black leather Heart bag. Designed by Franco Moschino. Vintage Condition; 7/10 Made in Italy. Height-7 Depth- 3" Width- 9" Handle Drop- 3.5"Category
1990s Top Handle Bags
- Givenchy RED Monogram Canvas Logo / Leather Hand BagBy GivenchyLocated in Алматинский Почтамт, KZGivenchy RED Monogram Canvas Logo / Leather Hand Bag Authenticity Code: SI 1014 Details: minimalistic logo – classic Givenchy print, all fittings/lining are branded. It has one large...Category
2010s Chinese Top Handle Bags
- Hermes Kelly 28 Epsom Celeste Gold HardwareBy HermèsLocated in New York, NYHermes Kelly 28 Celeste Epsom Leather Gold Hardware Condition & Year: New 2015 Material: Epsom Leather Measurements: 28cm x 22cm x 10cm Hardware: Gold *Comes with full original pac...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags
- Hermès Birkin 30 Togo Gris Pale Palladium HardwareBy HermèsLocated in New York, NYHermès Birkin 30 Gris Pale Togo Calfskin Leather Palladium Hardware Condition & Year: New 2023 Material: Togo Calfskin Leather Measurements: 30cm x 23cm x 1...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags
- Hermès Birkin Sellier 20 (New 2023) Faubourg by Night Madame Alligator LeatherBy HermèsLocated in New York, NY- The front of the bag is designed to resemble the Hermès flagship boutique on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. - The Faubourg Birkin pays homage to this iconic address, capturing the a...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags
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.