GIANNI VERSACE - Borsa a mano vintage con Medusa – Pelle Gialla Martellata - Handbag

GIANNI VERSACE

On auction, a magnificent collectible piece from the Gianni Versace maison, dating to the mid-1990s (approximately 1995-1996), during the brand’s golden era under the creative direction of founder Gianni Versace.

This model stands out for its structured, geometric, cartouche silhouette, produced in a vivid canary yellow hue. The bag body is made of premium full-grain leather with a hammered texture, ensuring durability and character. In the center of the front panel, the iconic three-dimensional gold metal medallion depicting the Medusa head stands out, an unmistakable Versace symbol.

The design is enhanced by vertical passers and gold-tone metal fittings in a Western style with decorative gadrooned engravings, applied both on the front flap and on the two stash pockets located at the sides. It features a sturdy rigid top handle and a refined removable chain shoulder strap with a shiny mirrored finish, attached via meticulous Medusa-relief studs. The base is protected by five metal feet.

The interior is fully lined in smooth honey-colored leather and features two pockets (one open and one zippered). Under the front zip there is the original fabric label with the Gianni Versace Couture logo embroidered in uppercase letters.

COLLECTIBILITY AND RARITY
This lot represents an exceptional opportunity for Fashion History collectors. Pieces signed directly by Gianni Versace before 1997 are considered true works of art and archives, destined to increase in value over time. What makes this particular specimen extraordinarily rare is its canary yellow color: while black or burgundy era models appear relatively frequently on the second-hand market, variants in such vibrant and bold tones produced in the 1990s are almost unattainable. The bag perfectly embodies the sunny, luxurious, and avant-garde aesthetic that defined Versace’s couture golden era, making it a museum piece for brand enthusiasts.

CONDITION OF THE ITEM: Grade B (Good condition, used with minor age-related signs)
- Exterior and Hardware: Excellent structural integrity and extraordinary shine of metal parts, which show no oxidation. A slight color loss (darkening) along the perimeter edges of the flap and on the lower corners of the base due to normal wear is noted.
- Handle: A dark patina is present on the central portion from hand contact during use, and the leather shows slight signs of age, but is structurally solid.
- Interior: The leather lining is sound, sturdy, and fully intact. Aesthetic note: a silver marker ink stain at the bottom interior left corner (as in the detailed photo). The internal fabric label is intact, clean, and perfectly legible.

YEAR OF PRODUCTION: 1995 – 1996
RETAIL PRICE: 2,200,000 Lire; equivalent models from the modern La Medusa line today have list prices ranging from €1,450 to €1,900, though they do not possess the historical value of the original vintage.

Measurements
Height: 26 cm
Width: 40 cm
Depth: 11 cm

Each item is meticulously checked before going on sale and all detected features or flaws are carefully photographed. Being a worn authentic piece, there may still be minor imperfections or microscopic stitching issues not immediately noticeable during inspection.
The reserve price and starting bid already take this into account, as well as the actual condition of the lot. We invite you to carefully review the gallery, which faithfully describes the item in detail. The item is sold as-is; the bid confirms acceptance of the historical conditions of the asset.
The worn item is on a virtual model; there may be minor discrepancies from the original photographed in the studio.

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• insured shipping with express courier.
After the auction, you can request the seller to ship to an UPS Access Point to facilitate pickup, by indicating the name of the point and address via internal messaging within 12 hours of the auction end.
Shipping cost may also vary depending on the destination (islands, non-EU countries, remote areas).

!ATTENTION!
ALL PACKAGES ARE INSURED AND SEALED WITH A SECURITY HOLOGRAM.
Sign with RESERVATION upon receipt of the package to retain the right to inspect it later; in case of transport damage, the carrier will be liable. If the box is damaged, the recipient must, at delivery confirmation to the driver, accept the shipment with a specific inspection reservation and keep all packaging and contents. The shipment must be left in the state it was delivered. No compensation claims for damage to the contents will be considered if the package shows no obvious external damage. The compensation request must be submitted within 72 hours of receipt, with photos of the unopened packaging on arrival, after opening, the contents, and the shipping label.

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