Revised September 7, 2026 (Revisions are italicised in orange)

Originally published June 19, 2019 12:41 pm UTC-8

---

The artist, who signs his Hermès designs Rybal is the great nephew of Philippe Ledoux [link to his biography].

---

Born as Vladimir Rybaltchenko, he is the father of another Hermès GREAT, Dimitri Rybaltchenko. Both son and father have designed some of the most popular and sought after Hermès carrés.

Vladimir’s father was a well-known engineer from Kyiv who was forced to emigrate to France after the October Revolution of 1917, as Ukraine fell under Bolshevik control was born in Kiev and left Russia shortly after the revolution. Educated as a bridge engineer, he worked for Renault and Citroen once he emigrated to France. It is said that he had a lovely singing voice and it was this talent that caught the ear of a young French aristocrat, Alice Ledoux.

Alice, the youngest and fourth child, was born and raised in England. Her three brothers were all accomplished. One is credited with translating works of Shakespeare, Dickens, Defoe, Poe and Tolkien into French. Another brother, Albert, was an ambassador. Her undoubtedly most famous brother, was Philippe Ledoux. The artist, who helped catapult and shape the Hermès carré; responsible for so many unforgettable scarves we still love today.

Alice’s father, much younger than Vladimir, objected to the marriage, but the marriage took place nonetheless. That union produced three children, Boris, Vera and Vladimir. Vladimir became a sculptor and painter and like his great uncle, Philippe Ledoux, worked for Hermès. His heritage shone through in designs like the 1975 carré Les Cavaliers d’Or, which was inspired by the famous ancient Scythian Golden Pectoral discovered in Ukraine. Vladimir died in 2002 leaving behind a legacy.

Vladimir Rybaltchenko was responsible for a number of very memorable scarves as well among them Les Cavaliers d’Or, possibly one the most popular designs of all.

---

The Golden Pectoral was discovered in 1971 at the Tovsta Mohyla burial mound near Pokrov, Ukraine, and is housed at the Museum of Historical Treasures of Ukraine in Kyiv.

Rybaltchenko created his design using high-resolution museum photographs, technical illustrations, and reference materials. The scarf was commissioned in 1975 to coincide with the major international exhibition “Scythian Gold”, which showcased Soviet-era museum artifacts (including high-quality replicas and photographic displays during its world tour, notably at the Grand Palais in Paris in 1976).

Enjoy some of Monsieur Rybal’s other creations…

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

Philippe Ledoux – The Other Hermes Legend

---

^{©Hermès is the exclusive property of HERMES OF PARIS, Inc., subsidiary of HERMES INTERNATIONAL}

^{All content is the property of Carre de Paris© 2010-2025}