Mini Hermès Kelly Handbag Could Fetch $200,000 at Auction

A collection of “rare and exceptional” handbags—from the likes of Hermès, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton—is on offer from Christie’s, in an auction ending Dec. 12.

The sale also “includes a selection of costume jewellery from Chanel—the collection spans a range of generations with lots coming from the modern era of Karl Lagerfeld, dating back to iconic original designs created by Coco Chanel herself,” Christie’s said in a statement. “This fantastic section is being sold without reserve.”

The star of the show is a mini Hermès Kelly bag made from sterling silver and dating to the 1990s, according to the auction house. The bag features “a charming miniature version of the signature Cadena lock,” in addition to its “iconic silhouette,” the catalog said. Available at auction for the first time in seven years, the bag is estimated to fetch between US$100,000-US$200,000.

A mini Hermès Kelly bag made from sterling silver and dating to the 1990s could fetch as much as US200,000.
Christie’s Images

The “sterling silver Kelly [is] one of the rarest pieces ever created by Hermès and now available at auction for the first time in seven years,” according to a statement from Christie’s.

Two limited-edition Bolide bags, also from Hermès, are part of the sale. Inspired by automobile travel, these bags—created 100 years after the original—feature tiny wheels for a touch of whimsy, plus hardware made from Palladium. One example is bleu saphir epsom leather with orange wheels, while the other is gold with yellow wheels.

The classic handbag represents “the imagination and innovation that Hermès is known for,” the catalog said. “Its silhouette was made to seamlessly fit inside the trunk of a car and its zipper, the first to ever be featured on a handbag, allowed for elegant ease of access while traveling.”

“There are also several men’s handbags included in the sale, such as “The Rock” HAC Birkin by Hermès, which has an estimate of US$40,000 to US$50,000 and is on offer for the first time from Christie’s. “This is the first Birkin bag specifically crafted for men and inspired by the supple appeal of leather jackets,” according to the auction house.

The sale also an acrylic and crystal ice-cube clutch with silver hardware that was part of a fall 2010 Chanel runway show with an estimate of US$6,000 to US$8,000; a limited-edition yellow and black monogram leather pumpkin bag by Louis Vuitton with Yayoi Kusama that could fetch up to US$15,000; and a Louis Vuitton trunk, circa 1890, that is estimated to sell for between US$10,000 to US$15,000.

Handbags have had a banner year, with 2023 sales reaching a total of HK$154 million (US$20 million) in sales so far this year—a record in the handbags and accessories category, according to Christie’s. The record was broken at a November auction in Hong Kong, where the company sold nearly HK$55 million (US$7 million) in rare and designer handbags.

Australian actor Chris Hemsworth has joined Archie Rose Distilling Co. as co-owner and strategic business partner as the Sydney spirits company prepares to enter the United States.

The partnership brings Hemsworth together with Archie Rose founder Will Edwards, with the pair aiming to build greater international recognition for Australian whisky.

Founded in Sydney in 2014, Archie Rose has developed a distinctively Australian range of whiskies, gins and other spirits using locally grown grains and native botanicals.

Hemsworth said his involvement grew from a long-standing admiration for the distiller and its use of Australian ingredients.

“I’ve been a fan of Archie Rose for a long time,” Hemsworth said.

“Wherever I am in the world, tasting an Archie Rose whisky immediately transports me right back home, to that feeling of sitting around a campfire in the Australian bush with my mates.

“Their ethos of only using Australian-grown malts to produce flavour-packed whiskies at their Sydney distillery is truly awesome. They’re a brilliant example of what Australia does best, and I can’t wait to share that with the world.”

Three new Australian whiskies

Three whiskies co-created with Hemsworth are scheduled to launch later in 2026.

Made using 100 per cent Australian-grown malts, the whiskies will be released nationally and introduced to the United States as Archie Rose enters that market for the first time.

Further releases are planned for Asia and New Zealand, followed by expansion into the United Kingdom and European Union in 2027.

Archie Rose will continue to oversee distillation and production, while Hemsworth will contribute to storytelling, creative direction, design and content development.

Edwards said the partnership would help introduce Archie Rose—and Australian spirits more broadly—to a larger international audience.

“Our approach has always been about championing local ingredients to create spirits that taste truly Australian,” Edwards said.

“Having Chris join the business as a co-owner allows us to bring that ambition to the world.

“We aren’t just making spirits; we are using Australia’s raw materials and ingenuity as the base for producing the world’s best whisky, gin and other spirits, telling the stories of the growers and the land beneath them.”

A distinctly Australian approach

Archie Rose works with Australian growers to source heirloom and drought-resistant grain varieties for its whiskies, as well as native botanicals for its gins.

Its whiskies are produced exclusively with Australian-grown malts, including rye and barley cultivated specifically for the distiller.

Each malt is milled, mashed, fermented, distilled and matured separately before the components are combined. The process is designed to retain the individual character of each grain.

For its gins, Archie Rose uses cold distillation to help preserve the character of individual botanicals.

The company says it has received more than 450 awards, including World’s Best Rye Whisky twice, Australia’s Best Single Malt Whisky five times and World’s Best Gin.

Archie Rose received B Corp certification in June 2026, recognising its stated commitments to social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.

The company operates its distillery in Botany, Sydney, with a public bar and cellar door in nearby Rosebery.

Hemsworth’s arrival as co-owner marks a significant change for the previously family-owned company—and gives one of Australia’s most recognisable actors an active role in the effort to establish Australian whisky as a global category.