The Alma is one of Louis Vuitton's oldest and most architectural handbags. Sotheby's says it was first made to order in 1925 for Gabrielle Chanel, who later allowed Louis Vuitton to produce it for the public, and it was launched in 1934 as the house's second handbag after the Speedy.
Its rigid, structured shape reflects the Art Deco movement of its time. The bag went through several names, first the Squire and then the Champs-Élysées, before it settled on Alma, after the Place de l'Alma in Paris.
The classic sizes are PM, MM and GM, and the more recent Alma BB and Nano come with a shoulder strap to wear across the body. It has been made in many materials and limited-edition patterns; Takashi Murakami's Monogram Multicolore of 2003 was used on the Alma, among other models. Sotheby's counts it among the heritage bags most prized by collectors.