Tiny handbag smaller than a grain of salt sold for $63,000

(Patria) - A miniature handbag measuring only 657 x 222 x 700 microns was sold for $63,000 at an online auction on Wednesday.

The handbag is barely visible to the human eye, fluorescent yellow-green in color, and is based on a Louis Vuitton design, but it is the work of an art collective from New York, not the luxury brand.

The company MSCHF named its creation "Microscopic Handbag," and it is so tiny that it can pass through the eye of a needle and is smaller than a grain of salt, reports Jutarnji.hr.

It was made using two-photon polymerization technology, which is used to print micro-sized 3D plastic parts. Along with the handbag, a microscope with a digital display was sold so that the buyer could observe the handbag.

The promotional photo of the handbag shows more detailed design, as well as the LV signature. The miniature handbag is inspired by its larger, "normal"-sized version from the Louis Vuitton brand, which is currently selling for prices between $3,100 and $4,300.

The auction took place on the online auction house Joopiter, founded by American musician, record producer, and designer Pharrell Williams.

Although Williams is currently the creative director of Louis Vuitton menswear, MSCHF's chief creative officer Kevin Wiesner previously told The New York Times that no permission was sought from Louis Vuitton to use the logo or design.

"Pharrell likes big hats, so we made him an incredibly small bag," he said.

MSCHF was founded in 2016 and has made headlines with its unusual art projects, profiting from consumer capitalism.

The company was sued by Nike for "Satan Shoes." It involved a series of 666 pairs of modified Nike sneakers with satanic symbols and drops of human blood. The dispute was eventually settled out of court.

Recently, their cartoon-style rubber boots known as "Big Red Boots" were a hit among celebrities – worn by stars including Doja Cat, Iggy Azalea, and Janelle Monáe.

MSCHF wrote a description with the auction, stating that the fashion industry's love for small bags has led them to become increasingly abstract and to be merely a brand, losing their practical function.

"Previous small leather handbags still required a hand to carry them – they became dysfunctional and cumbersome to carry. The microscopic handbag is the logical conclusion of this story. A practical object has been turned into jewelry, and its primary function has disappeared."