Vintage HERMES Horse Medallion Openwork Rigid Choker Necklace
View Similar Items
Vintage HERMES Horse Medallion Openwork Rigid Choker Necklace
About the Item
- Creator:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1980
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Kingersheim, FR
- Reference Number:Seller: OTH3191stDibs: LU171528189171
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.
- Diamond Bezel Necklace with 0.30 Carat Round Brilliant White Diamond ChainBy Five Star JewelryLocated in Austin, TXThis 14 karat white gold diamond bezel necklace is a classic! This simple design is one to be worn everyday and with any outfit. You...Category
2010s American Artisan Choker Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
$2,399 / itemFree Shipping - Twisted Bar Necklace, 14 Karat Gold, Curved Bar, Crescent, Retro, NK6736Y4JJJBy Gabriel & Co.Located in Austin, TXThis Gabriel & Co. designer necklace is a gorgeous 14k yellow gold twisted bar necklace that is the perfect mix between classic and fashion! This necklace is very fashionable and can...Category
2010s American Modern Pendant Necklaces
Materials14k Gold, Yellow Gold
$630 / itemFree Shipping - Curved Diamond Necklace, 14 Karat Gold Twisted Rope Bar, NeckMess, NK6085Y45JJBy Gabriel & Co.Located in Austin, TXThis Gabriel & Co. new, gorgeous 14k yellow gold twisted rope curved diamond bar necklace dripping with diamonds is the perfect mix between classic and trendy! This necklace is very ...Category
2010s American Modern Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
$952 Sale Price / item20% OffFree Shipping - Diamond Leaf Necklace, 14 Karat White Gold, Leaf Curved Bar Necklace, #NeckMessBy Gabriel & Co.Located in Austin, TXThis gorgeous 14k white gold leaf curved bar necklace dripping with diamonds is the perfect mix between classic and trendy! This necklace is very fashionable and can add a touch of s...Category
2010s American Modern Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
$590 / itemFree Shipping - Gold Diamond Necklace, 14 Karat Gold Half Circle, Half Moon, PendantBy Five Star JewelryLocated in Austin, TXThis gorgeous 14k yellow gold half circle necklace dripping with diamonds is the perfect mix between classic and trendy! This necklace is very fashion...Category
2010s Italian Modern Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Asimon Phone Token Pendant Set in Gold on Steel Chain with Gold HardwareBy Eytan BrandesLocated in Sherman Oaks, CAEytan Brandes was born and raised in Israel, and when he was growing up, public telephones used tokens (called asimons) instead of coins. He has had a bunch of these tokens lying around the shop and always liked the mid-1960's issue best for its strong graphics, showing an old-style telephone dial...Category
2010s American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsGold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Steel
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.