Diana Vreeland, ‘Holy Grail’ Hermes Birkins and extraordinary Louis Vuitton handbags at auction

Fashion and style icon Diana Vreeland’s English brown crocodile suitcase from the 1930s, replete with her initials (estimated at $5,000+), along with two Hermes Porosus Crocodile Birkin handbags, one in Shiny Fuschia, the other in Matte Black (both estimated at $40,000+) – among the most desirable handbags in the world – will anchor the debut auction of Heritage Auction’s new Luxury Accessories category, part of the company’s Dec. 13 Signature® Fine Jewelry and Handbag auction. Lots from the Luxury Accessories Auction will be available for lot viewing in New York, at the Fletcher-Sinclair Mansion (Ukrainian Institute), at 2 East 79th Street (at 5th Ave.) from Thursday, Dec. 2 through Sunday, Dec. 5, giving New York collectors a chance to view the material at the same time Heritage is holding a series of five auctions in other categories during the same dates. The auction not only marks the first appearance of Luxury Accessories at Heritage, it is also the first auction for the company conducted by Matt Rubinger, Director of Luxury Accessories at Heritage and a widely-known and highly-respected voice in the world of high-end handbags. “What this auction signifies is nothing less than the budding of a new market,” said Rubinger. “For the first time we can quantify this market with a solid track record of value and a growing number of collectors. This collection of the most sought after and collectible bags in the world, together with tempting starting bids, has ensured that this will be a significant auction for long-time collectors, fashion insiders and emerging collectors alike. And with the sale just two weeks before Christmas, I have a feeling more than a few of these will end up under a tree somewhere.” Diana Vreeland was one of the most famous women in fashion history, and anything directly associated with her comes with a cachet accorded only to the most influential of people. “Vreeland was Fashion Editor for Harper’s Bazaar, then Editor-in-Chief of Vogue,” said Rubinger. “She was a good friend of Coco Chanel, mentor of Richard Avedon and discovered Lauren Bacall and Edie Sedgwick among the many. A find like this doesn’t come along often, certainly, and a smart collector is going to take home this very special piece.” read more:www.replicashermes.com