Rare Hermès Polished Horn Pocket Knife
View Similar Items
Rare Hermès Polished Horn Pocket Knife
About the Item
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.
- Rare Scrimshaw Decorated HornLocated in Lymington, HampshireA rare scrimshaw decorated horn, engraved over one side with the Royal Arms countersigned and titled ship profiles for the Great Eastern, the Great Britain,...Category
Antique 1860s English Nautical Objects
MaterialsHorn
- Polished Antelope Horns on Brass BaseBy Anthony Redmile LondonLocated in North Hollywood, CAPolished antelope horns mounted on brass base.Category
Vintage 1980s Kenyan Hollywood Regency Taxidermy
MaterialsHorn
- Antique Kent's Knife Cleaning, Polishing & Sharpening Wheel with Original LabelsLocated in Hamilton, OntarioThis antique Victorian knife cleaning and sharpening machine was made by Kent's of London England in circa 1880 in the period Victorian style. The machine is composed of two sharpening stones...Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Historical Memorabilia
MaterialsStone, Metal
- Spanish Coin 1768 Antique Folding Pocket Knife In .916 Sterling SilverLocated in Miami, FLA pocket knife with a Spanish Coin. Beautiful antique pocket knife, created in Spain, back in the 1930'S. This pocket knife is very unusual since...Category
Antique 1760s Spanish Art Deco Arms, Armor and Weapons
MaterialsSterling Silver, Steel
- Hermes Paris, Rare French Silver Smoking Set, c 1930By HermèsLocated in Buenos Aires, OlivosRefined "guilloché" smoking set for two people in silver. Contains match holders and ashtrays. Original case included. Very rare collectors piece. Hermès Each piece hallmarked, fur...Category
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Tobacco Accessories
MaterialsSilver
$2,800 Sale Price26% Off - Antique French Bronze & Polished Marble Egyptian Revival Pocket Watch StandLocated in Hamilton, OntarioThis antique pocket watch stand is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from France and date to approximately 1920 and done in the period Egypt...Category
Early 20th Century French Egyptian Revival Collectible Jewelry
MaterialsMarble, Bronze
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.