I have to agree with @Berengeria - I can’t unsee the face, especially in the tricolor versions.
It was definitely an ultra “it” bag for years, with more staying power than the average trend bag. And it almost single-handedly resurrected the house of Celine and catapulted Phoebe Philo’s career. AND it is a wonderfully user-friendly practical bag in all various sizes.
However even these three pluses don’t add up to the definition of “iconic” imho. I’d say “impactful” and “memorable”.