Meg Randell

What do you do at Bonhams?

I am Head of U.K. & Europe for Fashion and Handbags at Bonhams, Knightsbridge. I am also part of the team working on the cross-category auction Pop x Culture, which will include designer handbags and fashion accessories.

Where are you from? And what inspired you to go into the auction world? 

I grew up in Gloucestershire, and studied History of Art at the University of Birmingham. During university holidays, I helped out at my local auction house, laying out the 1,000+ lot monthly general auctions and keeping an eye on all of the stock. My favourite part of the job was unpacking boxes and discovering what was inside. That joy at finding new treasures has never left me, although the treasures I find these days are more likely to be Birkin bags than dusty toys!

What was your first job?

My first proper job was as a specialist in the collectible ceramic department at a regional auction house. I had a wonderful boss who was eager to teach me everything about cataloguing, and who also allowed me to set up a vintage fashion department, which set me on the path I am on today. While there, I also helped catalogue the weekly general sale, meaning that I gained a good general knowledge of objects and antiques.

 Name one of your triumphs.

My career highlight definitely has to be selling an Hermès Birkin that belonged to its namesake, the English singer Jane Birkin. The bag was totally battered: Jane had let her cat sleep in it and the handles even had bite marks on them! Since inspiring the bag in the 1980s, Jane Birkin has been gifted five bags from Hermès, this example being the third and the final one that Birkin regularly used. I gave the bag a tentative valuation of £15,000-20,000, but on the day it soared past its top estimate, finally selling to an overseas bidder for a world-record £119,000 inc. premium.

Thinking of selling your designer handbag or collection? Submit it online for a free auction estimate.

What has changed in the business since you first started? 

I’ve been really lucky with my chosen specialism as the market for designer handbags has exploded over the last decade. When I first started working at auctions nobody would have believed it was possible to specialise in bags, whereas now every big auction house has a department. It has been so interesting being a part of a developing market, and I’m proud of the role that auctions have played in increasing the interest in pre-loved designer goods.

What is your strength as a specialist? 

I’ve been working at auction houses since I was 19, and have tried my hand at most aspects of auction house life, so I know the industry inside and out. Specialising in something as specific as handbags has been fascinating, I’ve learnt so much. The world of fashion is endlessly interesting, and I continue to learn something new every day.

Do you have a hidden talent?

Unfortunately I don’t seem to have much of a talent for it, but this year I have been learning Spanish and I am slowly improving. I really love travelling, particularly in Latin America, and so when the world opens up again, I hope to get a chance to practice my new skills.

Which object has changed your life? 

Years ago, I was working at a small London auction house when a collection of beautiful Chanel Flap bags was consigned. Before this, I was mostly cataloguing ceramics and some vintage textiles, but this collection of bags was just so beautiful that I fell in love and started focussing on handbags instead. If this collection hadn’t been consigned, I might still be cataloguing porcelain figures.

Contact Meg at meg.randell@bonhams.com

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