He said, "When I die, they will talk about my bag." It was sold for 400 million lira.

A Hermes bag belonging to Jane Birkin, who died in 2023, became one of the most expensive bags ever sold at auction. The worn, scratched, and stained black leather bag sold for $10 million, including commission. Years before her death, Birkin made a striking statement about the bag.

A BAG SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR BIRKIN

Hermes designed this bag specifically for Birkin. The Francophone style icon wore it almost daily from 1985 to 1994. This rare bag is being offered for sale by auction house Sotheby's, an online platform that features luxury fashion pieces including designs by Alexander McQueen and Christian Dior.

A JAPANESE PRIVATE COLLECTOR PURCHASED IT

A 10-minute bidding war between nine collectors resulted in the victory of a private collector from Japan. Morgane Halimi, Sotheby's head of accessories, described the historic sale as a significant milestone in the history of fashion and luxury.

"This is a striking demonstration of the power of a legend and its capacity to ignite the passion and desire of collectors seeking extraordinary pieces with unique provenance. The sale of the Original Birkin is also a celebration of the enduring spirit and appeal of his muse, Jane Birkin," Halimi said of the historic sale.

THE STORY OF THE BAG IS QUITE STRIKING

The Birkin bag's history is as striking as its sale. Actress Jane Birkin sold it in 1994 to support AIDS research. Since then, the bag has changed hands numerous times. It has been on public display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. It was last auctioned 25 years ago by a seller identified only as Catherine B.

HE SAID IT YEARS AGO

Birkin came to the forefront years ago for her comments about the bag. Speaking to Christiane Amanpour on CNN at the time, Birkin said, "God forbid, when I die, they'll probably only talk about the bag."

The actor died in 2023 at the age of 76.