Trophees de Venise and Trophees de Venise II Hermès Carrés and the Cathedral that Inspired both

Trophees de Venise Hermès carré was designed by Julia Abadie and issued in 2001, the year with the theme of Beauty of the Earth at Hermès.

A detail version of her design, the Trophees de Venise II, was part of the Fall-Winter 2002 collection and features but a small section of the original.

Trophees de Venise Hermes carre
Trophees de Venise Hermès carré by Julia Abadie (2001)

Hermes Silk Scarf Trophees de Venise II
Trophees de Venise II (Detail) Hermès carré by Julia Abadie (2002)

Julia Abadie, a gifted artist responsible for numerous designs, took her inspiration from the Basilica San Marco, St. Mark’s Cathedral, in Venice, Italy and its marble floors and intricate mosaic decorations.   This world famous cathedral lies at the eastern end of the Piazza San Marco and is adjacent and connected to the Doge’s Palace. Originally it served as the chapel of the Doge, but has been the city’s main cathedral since 1807. 

St. Mark’s recognizable façade graces the scarf’s upper right corner while one of Venice’s famous bridges and gondolas the opposite. 


Trophees de Venise Hermès carré close up
Gondolas synonymous with Venice, Italy are of course not missing from this design

However, taking center stage are the horses of Saint Mark-Lysippos, also known as the Triumphal Quadriga, a set of four Byzantine bronze statues of horses that are on display inside the basilica.

Trophees de Venise Hermès carré close up

Horses of Basilica San Marco
Horses of Basilica San Marco original statutes are inside the cathedral, while bronze replicas grace the entrance façade
(photo courtesy Tteskederivative work: Morn (talk) – Horses_of_Basilica_San_Marco.jpg, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15229898)

 Basilica San Marco Venice, Italy
Basilica San Marco Venice, Italy

Trophees de Venise Hermès carré close up
Saint Mark’s Basilica is quickly spotted in Abadie’s Venice

Close up of the exquisite architectural friezes of the Basilica San Marco, Venice, Italy
Close up of the exquisite architectural friezes of the Basilica San Marco, Venice, Italy, that attracts thousands of tourists each year

Below is an example of the inlaid marble floors that are also included in Julia’s design.

Floors in the Basilica
(photo courtesy Tony Hisgett / photo modified)

Trophees de Venise Hermès carré close up

Stone mosaic floors inside the cathedral

Stone mosaic floors inside the cathedral (Photo by Mindy McAdams), courtesy reidsitaly.com

Byzantine influence is strong in both the floors and architecture and consequently in the carre itself…

Trophees de Venise Hermès carré

Trophees de Venise Trophies of Venice Hermès carre by Julia Abadie Fall-Winter 2001/2002

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Trophées de Venise

In Venice victory is aquatic. Camped in its lagoons, the city of the Doges was the greatest port in the word.  It engaged in battles and ruled over Padua, Bergama and a multitude of other regions.  Such past glory bathes the present in reflected splendour: that of having conquered Time, of never having welcomed Progress with all its liabilities.  Never have horse-shoes trodden the pavements of San Marco; nor have they suffered a car’s exhaust”

Courtesy Carré H © Hermès, Paris 2001

Venice, Italy

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