Hermès East West One-Shoulder Bag, Rouge Vif Boxcalf, Sculptural Circular Handle, OX Stamp, 1994

Some Hermès bags exist quietly; this one is a statement. Made in 1994, when the House was testing the limits of silhouette, the East West One-Shoulder Bag sweeps a circular handle over a tailored front panel, all in deep red Rouge Vif boxcalf, a leather with a long Hermès history.

The Piece

This Hermès East West One-Shoulder Bag, stamped OX for 1994, is among the House's most unusual sculptural designs. Its architectural shape, with a sweeping circular top handle and a sharply tailored front panel, makes it a piece of wearable design history, embodying the refinement and inventiveness of vintage Hermès leathercraft.

Rouge Vif boxcalf, one of Hermès' most prestigious and historic leathers, gives the bag the rich, smooth gloss that only fine box leather achieves; the deep red reads bold yet sophisticated, and the leather has aged with the kind of vintage character collectors appreciate. The circular handle, a rare element for Hermès, forms a dramatic outline and sits comfortably over the shoulder, while the forward-facing front panel carries meticulous stitching and rows of ornamental detailing that give the piece a futuristic yet timeless feel.

Inside, the layout is simple and minimal: an open pocket, with a discreet snap closure, and silver-tone hardware completing the palette. The design is scarcely seen even among advanced collectors; the House produced very few runs of the model, and examples in Rouge Vif boxcalf, no longer produced in the same form, are especially hard to find.

Hermès archival leather pieces are valued for their innovation, craftsmanship and lasting elegance, and designs from the 1980s and 1990s, particularly sculptural or experimental silhouettes, have become increasingly sought after by collectors and fashion museums worldwide. Unlike anything in the current lineup, the bag works equally as an objet d'art, a display piece and a crossover acquisition for fashion historians and Hermès archivists.

Details

• Maker: Hermès
• Model: East West One-Shoulder Bag
• Era: 1994 (OX year stamp)
• Material: Boxcalf
• Color: Rouge Vif
• Measurements: Width approx. 27 cm · Height approx. 23 cm · Depth approx. 11 cm · Circular handle approx. 72 cm
• Included: None
• Hardware: Silver-tone
• Closure: Snap button
• Interior: Open pocket

Condition

Japonista grade B · Good, with visible wear consistent with use; fully functional.

• Grade B, vintage condition: wear consistent with a collectible piece made in 1994; no structural damage, and the bag maintains its shape.
• Scuffs and minor stains to the leather.
• Abrasion and light rubbing to the interior.
• Scuff marks along the handle edges.
• Mild tarnish to the hardware.

Authenticity & Care

Year stamp OX, corresponding to 1994 production. Every piece is examined and documented in Japan before dispatch and is offered with the Japonista authenticity guarantee.

Delivery from Japan

Packed by hand in Japan and shipped insured and tracked by EMS or an equivalent express service. Import duties and taxes, where applicable, are payable on arrival. Returns follow our published policy.

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