The Picotin Lock is a simple bucket bag that refers back to Hermès' beginnings as a harness maker. Sotheby's reports that the house launched it in 2002, modelled on a horse's feed bag, and that its name comes from the picotin, an old measure used to portion out a horse's daily ration of oats.
The bag is unlined and made most often in Clemence, a soft, matte grained calfskin, or the lighter embossed Epsom. Its handles are reinforced leather joined with exposed saddle stitching, four metal studs protect the base, and a single strap closes the top, fastened with the padlock used on the Kelly. Sotheby's notes that it is still made in France, in 18, 22 and 26 cm sizes, with the 18 the most popular. A micro version in Swift leather with a daisy pattern was added in 2022.
Hermès also makes limited editions. One embroidered Picotin, made for the Robert Dallet wild cat conservation initiative, took more than 1,000 hours of needle-painting with almost 50 shades of silk thread.