Christie’s is auctioning a unique Hermès piece on 3 November, the Kelly 25 Himalaya bag in matt white Nile crocodile and palladium jewellery.
One of the hardest Hermès bags to get will soon be auctioned at Christie’s, during the “Handbags Online: The Paris Edit” sale. It is a Kelly Sellier 25 Himalaya in matt white Nile crocodile and palladium jewellery, which left the workshop in 2022. The rare and unique piece is estimated at between 120,000 and 160,000 euros.
It has an external stitching unlike other models of this type which have an internal stitching. It was also designed with “sellier”, which is considered to be the top finish in leather goods.
“We don’t know if this model will appear again. We are therefore delighted to reveal for the first time this one, a first cousin of the iconic Kelly Himalaya “Retourné” 25, which has been called the rarest bag in the world,” says Lucile Andreani, EMEA Director of Handbags & Accessories at Christie’s.
However, it should be noted that the Crocodylus niloticus is an endangered and protected species, particularly in Benin, West Africa. As such, the export of this leather is highly regulated. Christie’s complies with the Washington Convention (CITES), particularly with regard to shipping conditions. But for certain destinations, the holder of this rare bag will need a travel permit for his bag. And the use of these exotic leathers, opposed by animal rights activists, is being debated more than ever.
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Other exclusive models from the House of Hermès will soon be up for auction, such as the Kelly So Black Plumes Sellier 28, estimated at between €80,000 and €100,000. This version was designed by the designer Jean Paul Gaultier in 2010, in calf leather and real feathers.
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Featured photo : © SAHAR M KHOURY
