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The Les Tambours (The Drums), a striking Hermès scarf designed by Joachim Metz in 1989, pays homage to the drums carried by the battalion drummers of Napoleon III’s Imperial Guard in the mid-18th century.

Metz’s design is elegantly framed by four officer’s belts adorned with medallions with one incorporating his signature.

At the very center, musicians’ epaulettes, distinguished by the lyre motif, take center stage.

However, the true protagonists of this scarf are the eight drums themselves, each representing a different battalion. For example, the top right corner features the drum of the foot grenadiers of the Imperial Guard, while the bottom right showcases the drum of the National Guard.

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The battalion, or marching band as we might call it, could reach up to forty-six members, comprised of a diverse ensemble including fifes, clarinets, oboes, bassoons, trumpets, trombones, and, of course, drums. Drums, however, were not merely musical instruments; they were crucial tools for military communication. Enabling commanders to convey orders across the battlefield, even amidst the chaos of battle, drums proved indispensable. This unique role, however, made the drummers, often young boys, highly vulnerable and prime targets for the enemy. The loss of a drummer boy or trumpeter, often the same individual, could severely hinder an officer’s ability to command his troops effectively in the din of battle.

I believe this carré serves as a poignant tribute to these brave young musicians and their vital, yet perilous, role in military operations.

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Like so many artifacts, the drum above Hermès – Paris is an etching from the personal collection of Émile Hermès, whose immense collection has inspired so many vintage scarves and under whose tutelage the carré as we know it was born, perfected and immortalized.

Merci Monsieur Hermès –

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