Sotheby's London Set to Stage Landmark Handbags & Accessories Auction This September

This September, Sotheby's London will host its Handbags & Accessories sale, a celebration of the house that has, for nearly two centuries, defined the language of luxury leather goods: Hermès. Registration for the sale opens on 28 August 2026 at 15:00 BST, giving collectors and connoisseurs several weeks to prepare for what promises to be one of the most closely watched fashion auctions of the year.

At the heart of the sale sit the two designs most synonymous with the Maison itself: the Birkin and the Kelly. Both bags have long since transcended their original purpose, becoming as much a study in craftsmanship and provenance as they are objects of everyday use. This September's catalogue brings together an exceptional range of examples, from timeless classics to some of the rarest and most unusual pieces to have come to market in recent years.

Among the highlights is a pair of Birkin Himalaya bags, a design so scarce it has become something of a legend within collecting circles, prized for the painstaking hand-dyeing process used to recreate the gradient of a snow-capped mountain range across Niloticus crocodile skin. One of the two, a Birkin 30 Himalaya, is further set with diamonds, placing it firmly among the most valuable handbags ever to appear at auction.

The sale also turns its attention to colour and craft, with a pair of Kelly bags presented in Lime and Vert d'Eau Alligator, two shades celebrated for their vividness and rarity. Rounding out the Hermès offering is a wide-ranging selection of the house's most recognisable silhouettes, including the Kelly Pochette, Mini Kelly, Kelly Cut, Bolide and Constance, alongside more playful and experimental designs such as the Kelly Picnic, a rare Micro Birkin, the whimsical One Two Three And Away We Go, and the Rainbow, Cavalcadour, Cargo, Studded and Rock editions, each representing a different facet of Hermès's design imagination over the decades.

Beyond Hermès, the auction will feature a distinguished group of pieces from Chanel and Fendi, together with a curated selection from Louis Vuitton with a particular focus on travel pieces, a fitting nod to the craftsmanship and heritage that has long underpinned the world of luxury travel and living.

For those unfamiliar with this corner of the auction world, sales of this calibre have increasingly demonstrated that exceptional design holds its value, and often appreciates, in much the same way as fine art, rare jewellery or well-located property. A Birkin in a coveted colourway or exotic skin is not simply a handbag; it is a handcrafted object, produced in limited numbers, with a level of artistry that collectors are willing to travel, register and compete for. It is this same appreciation for scarcity, quality and enduring design that so often draws people to exceptional homes as well.

The September 2026 Handbags & Accessories sale will take place in London, with registration to bid opening 28 August. Full details of the catalogue, viewing schedule and how to register can be found via Sotheby's website.