By Adele Chapin
Racked
May 30, 2016
Christie’s handbag specialist Caitlin Donovan has an enviable title. How does one get to spend a career surrounded by the most expensive bags in the world? That’s where she was last month, walking Racked through the items set to go on sale in a live Christie’s auction. All the bags — 80 percent of which were new and unworn — were displayed by color, from tangerine ostrich Hermès Birkin bags to blue patent Chanel Boy Bags. "It’s like the most beautiful Skittles you've ever seen in your life," Donovan said.
At age 28, Donovan’s skills are highly sought after: she got her start at Heritage Auctions and caused a ripple in the auction world when she and luxury accessory team members, led by "Birkin whisperer" Matt Rubinger, moved to Christie’s in 2014.
Donovan pointed out the tiny horseshoe next to the Hermès logo on a Birkin, indicating that his bag was custom-ordered by a top Hermès client. "So that makes this bag really one of a kind, because the bag wasn't made in a big run by Hermès, it was made for one client," she said.