A collection of 13 designer handbags owned by the international best-selling novelist, Barbara Taylor Bradford OBE, are set to add style and substance to the Bonhams Designer Handbags and Fashion sale on 13 October in Knightsbridge, London.
All received as gifts from her beloved late husband Robert Bradford, the collection comprises 13 pieces. 10 by Hermès, including half a dozen classic Kelly bags, and three by Louis Vuitton, representing more than 40 years of designs by these famous ateliers. Highlights include:
- Chocolate Brown Clemence and Toile Bolide 31, Hermès, c. 2005 (includes padlock, keys, cloche, shoulder strap and dust bag). Estimate: £2,000-3,000.
- Navy Box and Canvas Toile Kelly Retourne 32, Hermès, c. 1983 (Includes padlock, key, cloche, associated shoulder strap, and dust bag). Estimate: £2,000-3,000.
- Denim and Gold Box Bolide 35, Hermès, c. 1996 (Includes padlock, keys, cloche, shoulder strap, and dust bag). Estimate: £1,500-2,000.
Commenting on the sale, Barbara Taylor Bradford said; “I was gifted some really wonderful designer handbags by my husband for birthdays, anniversaries and when I had just published a new book. Bob had a great eye and appreciated fabulous design and craftsmanship. He really loved buying classic and limited-edition bags for me. I loved using them as I do think a great handbag can really finish an outfit off beautifully.
“I have decided it’s time to slim down my handbag collection. It seems a waste for them to be sitting in my wardrobe when they could be enjoyed by someone else.”
Head of Bonhams Designer Handbags and Fashion Department, Meg Randell, commented: “A handbag is so often a statement of a woman’s ambition, power and success, as well as a statement of style.
“Barbara Taylor Bradford is an epitome of this mix of style and substance. This is something her soulmate, Bob, clearly saw, and the collection – which contains two of the most desirable handbag brands in the world – is testament to both his great taste and his adoration for her.”
To view the sale room, please visit https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/26193/
Photo: Hermès Kelly. Bonhams