Added 11 days ago

Condition

Good

Color

Black

Material

Box Calf Leather

Category

Handbags

Hermès Kelly 32 Retourne — Black Box Calf, circa 1965 An absolute icon of French leather goods, the Hermès Kelly bag has spanned decades with an elegance that defies trends. This Kelly 32 Retourne example, circa 1965, is distinguished by its black Box calf leather, its characteristic soft construction, and its gold-plated hardware, whose patina now tells a story of over sixty years of history. The Box leather, emblematic of the House's historic creations, offers a smooth and deep surface, brought to life here by reflections and marks acquired over time. The black color soberly highlights the Kelly's architecture: its trapezoidal silhouette, structured flap, two straps, and turn-lock clasp form its instantly recognizable facade. In its Retourne construction, the Kelly reveals a more supple look than its Sellier counterpart. The contours are softer, the gussets more present, and the material naturally follows the bag's movements. After several decades, this suppleness has become more pronounced and fully contributes to the character of this piece. The gold-plated hardware provides a warm contrast to the black leather. It shows a patina and traces of oxidation consistent with the age and use of the piece. The bag also retains its zipper pull, clochette, padlock, and key, which are inseparable details of the Kelly's aesthetic vocabulary. Inside, a black goatskin lining extends the monochrome elegance of the whole. This piece is in a marked vintage condition, which we choose to describe with precision. The leather has creases, scuffs, scratches, and signs of use. The corners and chapes show significant wear; the handle is particularly marked at one of its attachments, with abrasion and exposed internal material. The gussets also have weakened and torn areas. The hardware shows signs of time, and some metal parts have visible oxidation. These imperfections are not hidden: they are part of the history of this old piece and are precisely documented in the photographs. Despite these frailties, the bag retains all the visual presence and characteristic proportions of the Kelly 32, offering the unique charm of a true vintage Hermès from the 1960s. Features: •House: Hermès Paris •Model: Kelly 32 Retourne •Period: Circa 1965 •Origin: France •Color: Black •Material: Box Calf •Lining: Black goatskin •Hardware: Gold-plated metal •Dimensions: approximately 32 cm in width •Closure: Flap with two straps and turn-lock clasp •Carry: Hand, by top handle •Accessories: Zipper pull, clochette, padlock, and key •Condition: Marked vintage condition. Significant wear on corners, chapes, and handle; weakened gussets; creases, marks on the leather; patina and oxidation of the hardware. •Provenance: Drouot Estimations •Authentication: Piece catalogued and sold by Drouot Estimations and expertised by Ecoluxury Authenticated piece — Ecoluxury Certificate of Authenticity —