Hermes Tape Dispenser
About the Item
- Creator:Hermès (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 1.5 in (3.81 cm)Diameter: 3.63 in (9.23 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:1980-1989
- Date of Manufacture:1980s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Los Angeles, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1853325619382
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: Los Angeles, CA
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- 1950s Hermès Ebony BrushBy HermèsLocated in Los Angeles, CABeautiful Hermès clothing brush. Made from rare Ebony Macassar wood, boar bristles and brass. This brush is meant to preserve the life and appearance o...Category
Vintage 1960s French Trunks and Luggage
MaterialsBrass
- Hermes Equestrian Letter Opener, 1960s FranceBy HermèsLocated in Los Angeles, CASleek Hermès letter opener with a detailed horse head handle in solid metal. Hermès Paris stamped on the top of blade. Beautiful light patina to t...Category
Vintage 1960s French Desk Sets
MaterialsMetal
- Hermes Equestrian Desk Tray, 1960s FranceBy HermèsLocated in Los Angeles, CAElegant silver Hermès desk tray with a detailed horse head handle in solid metal. Hermès Paris stamped on the side as well as Made In France. Beautiful con...Category
Vintage 1960s French Desk Sets
MaterialsMetal
- Hermes Equestrian Magnifying Glass, 1960s FranceBy HermèsLocated in Los Angeles, CAElegant equestrian Hermès magnifying glass with Hermès Paris stamped on the base. Features an engraved horse head handle and a substantial magn...Category
Vintage 1960s French Desk Sets
MaterialsBrass
- Hermes Equestrian Paper Holder, 1960s FranceBy HermèsLocated in Los Angeles, CASubstantial Hermès paper holder with a detailed horse head handle in solid metal. Hermès Paris stamped on the base as well as Made In France. Light...Category
Vintage 1960s French Desk Sets
MaterialsMetal
- Vintage Hermes Note Paper, 1980s FranceBy HermèsLocated in Los Angeles, CAOriginal and unopened Hermes note paper with gold gilded edge paper. Hermes logo on the top of the stack of sheets. Hermes logo on box. Great piece for the...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Desk Sets
MaterialsPaper
- Sterling Silver Tape DispenserBy Black, Starr & FrostLocated in Brooklyn, NYWe love offering novelty, whimsical sterling silver pieces! For the person who thinks they have it all or of that person who loves to have rare and unusual items… This tape dispenser...Category
Vintage 1940s American Sterling Silver
MaterialsSterling Silver
- 1970s Modernist Polished Brass Tape DispenserLocated in Brooklyn, NYModernist tape dispenser circa (1970s USA) in polished brass. The circular disks that hold the roll of tape in place adjust to accommodate dif...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
MaterialsBrass
- Blackened Tape Dispenser by Henry WilsonBy Henry WilsonLocated in Geneve, CHBlackened Tape Dispenser by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 14 x D 4 x H 7 cm Materials: Bronze (Blackened) The bronze tape dispenser is a hefty piece of st...Category
2010s Australian Modern Desk Sets
MaterialsBronze
- Brass Tape Dispenser by Henry WilsonBy Henry WilsonLocated in Geneve, CHBrass Tape Dispenser by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 14 x D 5 x H 7 cm Materials: Brass The brass tape dispenser is a hefty piece of stationery. I...Category
2010s Australian Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsBrass
- Vintage Professional Tape Dispenser by Nopifan, 1930sLocated in Esbjerg, DKA patented stationary tape dispenser from the Danish Company Nopifan. Its made from enameled cast iron and weighs in around 8kg. Regardless of how strong the pull or how strong a tap...Category
Vintage 1930s Danish Bauhaus More Desk Accessories
MaterialsIron
- Mid-Century Modern Textured Gold Frog Tape DispenserLocated in Haddonfield, NJTextured Gold Tone Metal Frog Tape Dispenser, 1960's This vintage two piece tape dispenser is from Ted Arnold Ltd. The charming frog with green glass eyes is stamped on the inside l...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
MaterialsMetal
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.