-SPECIAL- “HERMÈS” 60’s-70’s Palonnier black leather structured shoulder bag

“HERMÈS” 60’s-70’s Palonnier black leather structured shoulder bag

Since its founding in 1837 in Paris as a harness workshop, HERMÈS has carried forward the very highest standard of craftsmanship, expanding its aesthetic sensibilities from its mastery of fine leatherwork and harness-making to bags and accessories. From HERMÈS, we are pleased to present this exceptionally precious Palonnier—an emblem of the House’s origins, transformed into the refined silhouette of a bag.

Crafted from glossy black leather into a precise rectangular form, this piece features a bold, gold fitting reminiscent of a single horizontal bar at the center of the front. By keeping decoration to a minimum, it creates a strong presence that is unforgettable at first glance.

“Palonnier” is the term for the crossbar used to attach the reins of a horse in a carriage. It is an especially symbolic name for HERMÈS, whose beginnings lie in harness-making. In this bag, the long, horizontal metal element evokes that meaning, beautifully incorporating the House’s history itself as design.

First and foremost, the flap to the body is virtually without ornamentation, presenting a large, uninterrupted expanse of smooth black leather. Because the natural luster of the leather and the delicate play of shadows that appear when it catches the light take center stage, the design feels exceptionally quiet—yet still conveys a palpable tension.

The flap, which extends horizontally, keeps its crisp straight lines while letting the corners drop slightly. In contrast with the gold fitting placed beneath it, the bag’s overall horizontal line is emphasized further, adding an architectural beauty to the classic top-handle bag form.

The central fitting is arranged around a single bar as its base, with a movable clasp suspended from the center—an arrangement that establishes itself not merely as a closure, but as the very face of the bag. Against the unmistakably clear pairing of black and gold, only this fitting captures the light strongly. Even without ornate decoration, an HERMÈS-like sense of refinement arises naturally.

The handle is made from slim black leather, shaped into a gentle arch, and its ends are connected to the body with small gold fittings. By adding soft curves against the bag’s clean, square silhouette, it lends the whole piece a discreet elegance.

From the side, the gusset features a multi-layered, accordion-like structure. While it maintains the thin, neatly composed impression seen from the front, when opened the storage space expands in a three-dimensional way. It is clear that HERMÈS’s rationality is at work here—not only prioritizing external beauty, but assembling the internal structure itself as a patterned design.

The interior is also unified with black leather throughout. With multiple compartments and pockets, it allows your belongings to be divided and stored in an orderly manner. This is one of the signs of careful craftsmanship of the time: even when the bag is opened, the refined atmosphere continues seamlessly from the exterior.

Inside, there is also a gold stamp reading “HERMÈS PARIS.” Without displaying a large brand logo on the outside, the modest placement ensures that only the owner who opens the bag can confirm the Maison’s name—an appeal that is distinctly characteristic of HERMÈS from this era.

The period appears to be from the late 1960s to the early 1970s. For the same-model Palonnier, black leather pieces from the 1960s as well as examples made in 1970 have been confirmed, and even lizard versions from the 1970s. The present model’s slim one-handle design, the gold Palonnier fitting, the refined flap structure, and the interior stamp “HERMÈS PARIS” all align with the specifications of that period.

While bags emblematic of today’s HERMÈS are widely known, the Palonnier retains the Maison’s background as a harness workshop more directly. The major added value of this model is not merely its worth as an “old HERMÈS,” but the fact that the brand’s origins and the bag design are connected at a remarkably close distance.

In particular, the clean, decisive shaping that takes advantage of broad black leather surfaces, and the balance achieved by a single gold fitting placed at the center, remain extremely modern even after nearly half a century. It offers the level of finish to blend naturally into contemporary styling, while letting you enjoy the decorative character typical of vintage bags.

For those who would like to enjoy HERMÈS’s background not by making the brand logo itself the main focus, but through its materials, fittings, and structure—those seeking a classic bag whose character does not simply fade into “oldness” even after many years—and those who want to enjoy an archive that preserves the Maison’s harness culture deeply in everyday life: this is a piece we especially recommend to have in hand.

For styling, the bag’s straight-lined design will look beautiful when paired with a tailored jacket and wide slacks. When combined with a long coat or a dress, you can naturally bring the elegance of the 1960s through the 1970s into a modern balance. And by adding it to soft styles such as a shirt and a long skirt, the gold fitting tightens the overall look, finishing it in an elegant yet fashion-forward MOOD-like presence.

As you can feel the harness culture—the very origin of HERMÈS—from the name down to the design of its fittings, the Palonnier is a model that you no longer see so often today. With its timeless combination of black leather and gold fittings, it becomes a special collection-worthy piece—an exceptional item you can enjoy.

We sincerely invite you to take this opportunity.