Bidding starts at $15,000 but could run as high as $25,000.
A copy of Louis Vuitton handbag that can only be viewed through a microscope is going viral on social media. The handbag, which would be a replica of Louis Vuitton’s OnTheGo collection is the creation of Brooklyn-based art collective MSCHF. MSCHF stands for “miscellaneous mischief”, a name that embodies their provocative, hyped creations that consciously and unconsciously play with societal norms and consumer culture.
While sharing the images on its official Instagram page, MSCHF describes it, “Smaller than a grain of sea salt and narrow enough to pass through the eye of a needle, this is a purse so small you’ll need a microscope to see it.” It further said, “There are big handbags, normal handbags, and small handbags, but this is the final word in bag miniaturization. As a once-functional object like a handbag becomes smaller and smaller its object status becomes steadily more abstracted until it is purely a brand signifier.“
Among the wide range of micro-additive manufacturing technologies that exist, the team at MSCHF would have used a “stereolithographic process commonly used for making tiny mechanical biotech structures” using a photopolymer resin, a gel case to preserve the structure, and a microscope to facilitate viewing as main materials. As for the product’s display dimensions, they measure 30 x 16 x 8 inches (76.2 x 40.64 x 20.32 cm).
While the exact name of the technology has not been disclosed, we know that there is a very short list of manufacturers that specialize in micro 3D printing. Nanoscribe, Fabrica and UpNano are a couple of names that come to my mind right now.
With a size of 657 x 222 x 700 micrometers, the tiny 3D printed bag, will go on auction at Pharrell Williams’ digital-first auction house and content platform JOOPITER in 8 Avenue Matignon, Paris. It will be securely mounted beneath a microscope and sealed within a gel case.
The Microscopic Handbag will be showcased in JOOPITER’s exhibit from June 20 until 24, 2023. Worldwide bidding for this unique item opened on the “Just Phriends” platform on June 19 and will run until the 27th. Bidding starts at $15,000 but could run as high as $25,000.
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