Gucci | Handbags, jewellery and clothing for sale, auction results and history

Synonymous with exquisite craftsmanship, innovative design and distinctive motifs, Gucci handbags, trunks and suitcases are the epitome of luxury and elegance.

The history of the house dates from 1897, when Guccio Gucci moved from Florence to London to work as a porter and lift attendant at The Savoy hotel. He returned to Florence in 1902 and later, in 1921, opened his own artisanal luggage atelier, pairing Tuscan leatherwork traditions with the trends he had encountered in London.

Over the next few decades, the brand continued to push boundaries, launching its now instantly recognisable Gucci Bamboo bag with bamboo handle and turnlock closure in 1947. By the 1950s, Gucci had boutiques across Italy and the US, and the brand counted Hollywood celebrities among its many famous clients.

Inspired by the house’s equestrian heritage, the Gucci Horsebit bag followed in 1955. It is characterised by the double ring and bar motif which first appeared on a pair of Gucci loafers in 1953. Since then, the horsebit motif has adorned a wide range of Gucci products, from bags and fine jewellery to lifestyle accessories.

Gucci’s crescent-shaped Jackie bag was first introduced in 1961 and features the brand’s signature cylindrical piston closure in gold or silver. The Bamboo, the Horsebit and the Jackie are today among the most coveted Gucci handbags on the secondary market.

The brand continued to innovate in the 1960s and 1970s, launching its now instantly recognisable GG monogram motif in 1969, its debut fragrance in 1975 and its first ready-to-wear collection in 1981. In 1993, Maurizio Gucci sold his remaining company shares to Investcorp, ending the Gucci family’s involvement with the company.

Other popular Gucci bags include the Blondie, a small leather shoulder bag with removable strap and interlocking G-motif that debuted in 2022. Also noteworthy is the Diana bag, a bamboo-handled tote inspired by the original suede bamboo-handled bag beloved by Diana, Princess of Wales in the late 1990s. The Gucci crossbody Marmont bags were first debuted on the 2016 autumn runways.

In 2021, Gucci opened Vault, an online concept store featuring one-of-a-kind vintage pieces, collaborative collections, designs from emerging labels and collector’s items that have been reconditioned and reimagined by Gucci ArtLab artisans in collaboration with the company’s archivists.

In July 2023, Christie’s partnered with Gucci for the Christie’s Art & Tech Summit, a two-day conference in New York exploring the role and impact of technologies in the art world. In November 2023, Christie’s offered three bespoke bags from Gucci Vault in an online handbags sale at Christie’s in Paris.

In addition to Gucci handbags, Christie’s offers Gucci watches, Gucci jewellery and Gucci lifestyle accessories including Gucci wallets, Gucci purses and Gucci sunglasses. Gucci rings, necklaces and earrings represent the highest prices achieved at Christie’s. In 2011, Christie’s sold a pair of rock crystal and gold Gucci earrings from the collection of Elizabeth Taylor for $74,500, more than 37 times the high estimate. Gucci garments have also been offered at Christie’s. When Christie’s New York offered the collection of Vogue editor André Leon Talley, it included Gucci coats, kimonos and kaftans as well as a Gucci garment carrier and a bamboo-handled briefcase.