Rare Christian Dior Handbag Found in Charity Shop Sells for Nearly £8,000
A limited-edition Christian Dior saddle bag, purchased for approximately £80 at a charity shop, fetched £7,870 at auction.
A Christian Dior saddle bag, acquired from a charity shop for around £80, has sold for £7,870 at auction. The handbag was identified as a scarce, limited-edition piece designed by John Galliano for Dior's autumn/winter 2003 runway collection.
The seller, an unnamed woman from the Cotswolds, bought the bag because she liked its appearance, unaware of its potential value or authenticity. She took it to auctioneers Kinghams, where specialists identified it as a rare Christian Dior koi saddle bag.
According to a Kinghams spokesman, the bag is considered a "Holy Grail" among luxury handbag collectors due to its extremely limited production. The auctioneers estimated the bag's value between £800 and £1,200. The item sparked a bidding war, significantly exceeding its estimate.
Sophie Osborne, Kinghams' designer goods specialist, described the find as extraordinary and potentially the discovery of her career. The auction house noted immediate interest in the lot upon its listing, with inquiries pouring in before the sale concluded.