Diana Vreeland's Suitcase, Rare Birkin Bags Up For Auction

Heritage Auctions is branching out into the luxury accessories category with their first auction in Heritage's Luxury Accessories category as part of the December 13 Fine Jewelry and Handbags auction. We've been seeing more and more action in this category from auction houses lately as older bags have commanded high prices. This auction includes a pair of rare Hermes Birkin bags--two Hermes Porosus Crocodile Birkin handbags, one in Shiny Fuschia, the other in Matte Black are each estimated to bring in over $40,000. Those two Birkins are the most expensive in a selection of more than 30 Hermes Birkins and Kelly handbags in the auction, all of which are greatly coveted by collectors. But perhaps even more interesting to students of fashion is the brown crocodile suitcase belonging to legendary Vogue editor and style icon Diana Vreeland. The English brown crocodile suitcase, shown above, is from the 1930s and replete with her initials. It is estimated at $5,000. Collectors of Judith Leiber's beaded minaudieres will also want to check this auction out. It includes a variety of highly collectible versions of her small purses which are often in the shapes of animals and plans. The collection also includes some her earliest metal bags from the 1960s, which are rarely available on the market. 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. With the auction taking place just two weeks before Christmas, Rubinger has a feeling that "more than a few of these will end up under a tree somewhere." Lots from the Luxury Accessories Auction will also be available for lot viewing in New York, at the Fletcher-Sinclair Mansion (Ukrainian Institute), at 2 East 79th Street (at 5th Ave.) on December 2-5.read more:www.replicashermes.com