DALLAS, TX.- In Jeff Pryor's view, something good can come from something bad. In his case, the bad was a devastating illness that kept him bedridden for nearly a year, and the good was a quest that resulted in the World's Greatest Chanel Handbag Collection — an incomparable assemblage that Heritage Auctions will present on May 8.

Three years ago, the lifelong musician and CEO of a California-based medical equipment company was fighting for his life. After surviving a cardiac aneurysm and open-heart surgery, Pryor developed a serious infection in his sternum. His condition was so dire that doctors told him his future was uncertain and that he should get his affairs in order.

“In my mind, ‘getting my affairs in order' meant that I needed to do something with the creative, artistic part of my brain that made me a musician, that made me see things a little differently,” he says. “I've always loved collecting things, and I started collecting the bags for [my wife] Cheri. At first, I was simply trying to find her unique bags to match her extensive shoe collection, but the more I learned about Chanel and [creative director] Karl Lagerfeld, the more intrigued I became. Karl was the most phenomenal designer, and he had a great sense of humor. I've always been drawn to the best — like Jimi Hendrix and Beck, and baseball's Ohtani. And then there's Karl.”

Pryor's remarkable assemblage features some of Chanel's most striking, wearable pieces of art, including the whimsical Guitar minaudière from the house's Pre-Fall 2024 Métiers d'Art Collection, the rare Scarab Beetle minaudière from the Pre-Fall 2019 Collection and the casino-inspired Slot Machine minaudière from Chanel's 2023 Resort Collection.

Other highlights include standout pieces such as the rare Mini Van minaudière featured in the Chanel Cruise 2024 runway show in Los Angeles, the rare and collectible Pre-Fall 2023 Lion Head minaudière from the house's first show in Africa and the vintage-inspired Film Projector minaudière that was featured in Chanel's Pre-Fall 2016 Métiers d'Art show in Rome.

Pryor says he spent much of his grueling recovery time in a “buying frenzy,” scouring the planet for the rarest and most sought-after Chanel pieces ever created. Unlike Chanel's iconic and classically elegant bags, Lagerfeld's spirited and whimsical minaudières are highly stylized, intricately designed accessories usually made of unexpected materials such as Lucite, resin, crystals and feathers. Typically seen on the runway or in Chanel's annual Métiers d'Art collections, the lavish, captivating pieces are produced in exceptionally limited quantities.

“Jeff's collection is extraordinary,” says Diane D'Amato, Heritage Auctions' Director of Luxury Accessories, Private Sales & The Boutique. “It's extremely rare to see so many special minaudières and runway pieces in a single collection. In fact, I've never seen such an extensive collection of Chanel bags before. It's truly spectacular and a testament to how much Jeff appreciates, understands and genuinely loves the craftsmanship, artistry and intricacy of Chanel.”

Looking back on his quest, Pryor recalls connecting with collectors from all over the world and becoming friends with many of them. “After a while, it wasn't only for my wife; it was to satisfy something in me,” he says. “I couldn't hold a guitar to my chest. I couldn't play music, but I could look for — and find — the rarest bags to create the greatest Chanel collection of all time.”

Whether it was acquiring the Gas Can minaudière from a collector in Florida or tracking down the Belt Buckle from a fellow in Australia, Pryor's determination was unwavering. “I became fascinated by Karl,” he says. “He always thought way out of the box. For instance, look at his Gold Bar — what better way to describe a Chanel bag? And the Hula Hoop? Karl designed it so a woman could take it to the beach and hang her towel on it!”

On May 8, however, Pryor will say goodbye to his beloved assemblage when Heritage presents the World's Greatest Chanel Handbag Collection Luxury Accessories Signature® Auction. “Of course, I'll miss them because I put my heart into this collection,” he says of the 80 exceptional bags featured in the auction, “[but] we want to give someone else the chance to enjoy them, whether they display them or wear them and flaunt them.”

Pryor's Chanel collection isn't the only exceptional offering Heritage will present that day. Also on May 8, Heritage's Spring Luxury Accessories® Signature Auction will feature an extraordinary selection of the rarest, most sought-after bags by Hermès, Chanel and Louis Vuitton, including vintage, runway and exotics.

Leading the auction is one of the most special handbags ever created: the Hermès Exceptional Collection 35cm Shiny Black Porosus Crocodile Diamond Birkin with 18k white gold and diamond hardware. Bejeweled with nearly 11 carats of pavé-set diamonds, the raven-hued beauty is stunning, rarely offered at auction and highly coveted by collectors.

While the Birkin has been reimagined over the years, some essential elements remain the same. For instance, the Exceptional Collection 35cm Shiny Black Porosus Crocodile Diamond Birkin is still hand-stitched and finished by a single artisan using one individual skin of the Porosus crocodile, which is prized for its small, square and symmetrical scales with distinct center pores that look like little dots. The bag is then hand-dyed and buffed to a radiant finish.

“This bag is the epitome of luxury,” says D'Amato. “An extraordinary masterwork of sophistication and elegance, this exquisite creation is the result of meticulous craftsmanship and incomparable artisanry and construction.”

The auction also features the perfect companion piece to the Exceptional Collection Birkin: the Hermès Shiny Black Alligator Diamond Bearn Wallet. While offered separately, the wallet is often sold with the Diamond Birkin because it, too, is adorned with 18k white gold and diamond hardware featuring 16 pavé-set diamonds.

Other Hermès highlights include the rare 25cm Ombre Salvator Lizard Birkin made from a single lizard skin, the perfectly pink-hued 28cm Matte Rose Mexico Alligator Kelly, the 25cm Matte Jaune Bourgeon Alligator Birkin and the Limited Edition 35cm So Black Box Calf Leather Kelly.

There's also a fantastic array of Hermès Mini Kellys and Pochettes, including the highly desirable Jaune de Naples Swift Leather & Osier Wicker Mini Kelly Picnic, the luminous 20cm Metallic Doré Chevre Chamkilight Mini Kelly and the Fuchsia Lizard Kelly Pochette.