Tag Archives: hermes scarf blog

L’Arriere-Main Hermes carre

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L’Arriere-Main Hermès carré by Philippe Ledoux 1969 – RARE – Personal Collection

The lovely L’Arriere-Main Philippe Ledoux carré draws its inspiration from a painting by Théodore Géricault entitled Les Croupes, (The Hindquarters/Buttocks).

Théodore Géricault was a French Romantic Painter (1791-1824) from Rouen, France. His oil painting entitled Les Croupes, (The Hindquarters/Buttocks) provided the Inspiration for the 1969 Hermès carré, L’Arriere-Main by Philippe Ledoux

Most likely the studies for this painting found their inspiration at the Royal Stable, the Grande Écurie of Versailles, an impressive structure that could accommodate up to six hundred horses. Constructed during the 17th century under the watchful eye of Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the Royal Stables have been home to the Equestrian Arts Academy (Académie du spectacle équestre) since 2003.

The Great Stables or Royal Stable, the Grande Écurie, at the Palace of Versailles
Les Croupes – close up

Les Croupes, which portrays twenty-four horses from behind is rather an unusual compositions as it features the hindquarters and not the heads of twenty-four horses in three neat rows. Surprisingly there is one defiant horse that stands out as it is turned around facing us, the audience. I cannot help but attribute lightness and humor to this rather unusual arrangement and composition.

Perhaps charmed by this as well was what inspired Philippe Ledoux to reproduce the Les Coupes as a drawing for his 1969, L’Arriere-Main, now highly sought-after design.

L’ARRIERE-MAIN HERMÈS SILK SCARF VINTAGE LEDOUX 1969 – AVAILABLE

Surprisingly Monsieur Ledoux omits the rebellious horse in his drawing but includes the same checkered blankets that are very often found in Géricault’s other paintings. Perhaps it will remain a mystery why Ledoux left the defiant horse out, but included the horse blankets, which undoubtedly link his design to the French master’s. With this the L’Arriere-Main Hermès carré features three rows but only twenty-three hindquarters and not the twenty-four from its original Inspiration.

L’ARRIERE-MAIN HERMES SCARF BY PHILIPPE LEDOUX 90 CM SILK TWILL 1969 – RARE – AVAILABLE

Vive le Vent hermes Carre

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The Vive le Vent was part of the 1992 Year by the Sea Collection, which was the theme for that year at HERMÈS©. Designed by the talented Toutsy, who is also known as Laurence Thioune and Laurence Bourthoumieux, her stunning Long live the Wind takes us to the four corners of the world.

Vive le Vent Hermes Silk Scarf by “Toutsy” Laurence Bourthoumieux from 1992 – Available
Vive le Vent by Laurence Toutsy Bourthoumieux Thioune (1992) – SOLD

This is how Hermès introduced this design in the Le Carre Hermès Paris© booklet:

This scarf ripples in the wind like a flag unfurled. Chests fill out to match the great expanse of ocean. We are on board one of those brave vessels of heroic times, ploughing the main in full sail in search of distant horizons conjuring up adventure and sheer poetry. Whether man-of-war or merchantman, the king of the high seas cuts through the foam-tipped waves. And a lusty sea-shanty fills the air.

Vive le Vent by Laurence Toutsy Bourthoumieux Thioune (1992) signed as L.Thioune – SOLD
SOLD

Some interesting facts:

Other designs from that year include:

Grand Fonds – Annie Faivre more about the life of this artist here

Grands Fonds – SOLD

A la Gloire de Guillaume – Loïc Dubigeon

Festival – Henri d’Origny

Festival – AVAILABLE

Vent Portant – Yannick Manier

Vent Portant – AVAILABLE

Feux de Router Apercus la Nuit en Mer –

Kachinas – Kermit Oliver

Kachinas – Coming soon

Musee – Philippe Ledoux more about the life of this artist here

Musee
Musee – SOLD

Le Paradis du Roy – Annie Faivre more about the life of this artist here

Do you know what an hermes carre cost brand new in 1992?

$215 (now I understand the expression “good old days” :-))

2020 and beyond

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The Winter Gardens -Jardins d’Hiver

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Annie Faivre used her magical talents when she created the Jardins d’Hiver Hermès carre.

Introduced in 2007 in several color combinations, the celadon green colorway is still my personal favorite.

Jardins d’Hiver by Annie Faivre – 2007
The Jardins d’Hiver in the bold and striking Rose Vif/Vert/Creme Col. (Hot pink/Green/Cream – SOLD

With so much to see and explore, it is easy to get lost in this verdant paradise. Around every turn, we stumble upon legendary gardens like the tiered Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

We may linger and pause in the gardens of the Villa Borghese as we take in the sweet scent of the orange blossom.

Then suddenly around the corner we find ourselves lost in the midst of a medieval maze.

The Alhambra, the Taj-Mahal and the Majorelle in Marrakesh are all brought together with the skilled hand of the artist into a place of abundance and tranquility where light and shadow strike the perfect balance.

JARDINS D’HIVER HERMES SCARF BY ANNIE FAIVRE 90 CM SILK
SOLD
Jardins d’Hiver Hermes carre from 2007 by Annie Faivre is a sure knockout in this hot pink color way – SOLD

Marche Flottant du Lac Inle II by Dimitri Rybaltchenko

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The Floating Market of Lake Inle II by Dimitri Rybaltchenko is a detail of his 1998 design, titled Marche Flottant du lac Inle.

The Marche Flottant du Lac Inle II is a beautiful close up of the original design and was part of the Spring Summer 2002 Collection.

Here we are so close to that we can almost hear the hustle and bustle on this freshwater lake located in today’s Myanmar. Lake Inle is home to approximately 70,000 people, who live in four cities and numerous small villages along the lake’s shores and on the lake itself.

Transportation on the lake is traditionally by small boats, whereby the women sit cross legged at the stern using the oar with their hands.

As the lake is covered by flaoting plants and reeds, local fishermen practice a distinctive rowing style which enables them to see. Standing at the stern on one leg and wrapping the other leg around the oar provides the rower with a view beyond the reeds. 

In addition to fishing, farming takes place in floating gardens whereby farmers gather up lake-bottom weeds and turn them into floating beds. Anchored by bamboo poles these gardens are incredibly fertile and produce anything from rice to tomatoes.

Dimitri Rybaltchenko beautifully captures Burmese life on Lake Inle.

Here in a beautiful theme appropriate colorway (col.06) of pale blues punctuated with vibrant orange and purple hues and verdant greens.

MARCHE FLOTTANT DU LAC INLE II HERMES SILK SCARF BY DIMITRI RYBALTCHENKO

Real Escuela Andaluza Hermes Silk Scarf

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Real Escuela Andaluza was designed by Hubert de Watrigant, who has brought us a number of lovely equestrian inspired carres. This particular design was first issued in 1996/1997 and has been sought after ever since.

Paying tribute to the world famous equestrian school, the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art located in Cádiz, Spain.

The Considered the “Haute Ecole” of equestrian schools, it is one of the “Big Four” most prestigious classical riding academies in the world. The school established in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, in 1973, quickly gained fame with its annual show entitled “How the Andalusian Horses Dance”, a unique exhibition of horsemanship.

Enjoy Monsieur Watrigant’s interpretation of the Andalusian Horse Dance…

Real Escuela Andaluza Hermes Silk Scarf – SOLD

L’Atlantide Hermes Silk Scarf by Annie Faivre – 1995

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L'Atlantide Hermes Silk Scarf by Annie Faivre - 1995
Annie Faivre’s L’Atlantide HERMES Carre

Hermes first issued Annie Faivre’s L’Atlantide carre in 1995 and due to its popularity again in 1999 as part of that year’s Spring/Summer Collection.

The care tag and colorway point to this carre being part of the original 1995 issue with colors both vibrant and bold.

Annie Faivre has created some of the most memorable scarves for the French Fashion House. With a huge worldwide following, her designs are much sought after. Her style unique and intricate, each of her creations is filled amazing detail that captures both the eye and the imagination, carrying the beholder to far away places, both real and imagined.

The L’Atlantide was part of the “On the Road Again…” Theme for 1995.

L’ATLANTIDE HERMES SILK SCARF BY ANNIE FAIVRE – RED
SOLD

Jardin Creole Hermes silk scarf by Valérie Dawlat-Dumoulin – 1994

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Designed by Valerie Dawlat-Dumoulin in 1994 this scarf is both bold as it is beautiful.

I am pleased to be have two stunning colorways available soon.

JARDIN CREOLE
Designed by Valerie Dawlat-Dumoulin in 1994 – coming soon
NOUVELLE CALEDONIE
Designed by Valerie Dawlat-Dumoulin in 1994 – coming soon

Centered around the coconut of the Caribbean, the Jardin Creole carre showcases not just the fruit itself but two of its by products, a hand woven palm hat made from its fronds and a carved dry coconut shell.

Enjoy additional photos of this carre below and a brief biography of this fascinating artist can be enjoyed here; this dramatic design is simply stunning in any colorway …


SOLD
NOUVELLE CALEDONIE
Designed by Valerie Dawlat-Dumoulin in 1994 – coming soon

Musique Des Dieux Hermes Silk Scarf Rare

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Musique des Dieux Hermes silk scarf  was designed by Claudia Stuhlhofer-Mayr and issued in 1996, the Year of Music.

Musique des Dieux Hermes silk scarf 

Other wonderful designs that were part of the Year of Music, include the Les Ballets Russes by Annie Faivre. Zoe Pauwels’ contributed her fabulous La Musique des Sphères and the talented Loïc Dubigeon designed not one but two exceptional carres that year, the New Orleans Creole Jazz and Salzburg.

Musique des Dieux Hermes scarf showcases several ancient Greek mythological figures dancing while playing ancient instruments, like the Lyre for example.

The Aulos and Syrinx or pan flute, a woodwind instrument, paved the way for the modern-day harmonica
The Kymbala or cymbals and the
Tympanon, or tambourine have not changed much throughout history
The Kithara, an advanced version of the Lyre, gave birth to the modern day guitar
And whom do we find at the center? Is it the river god Achelous entertaining himself by playing a syrinx?

In one of her four “instrument” squares Madame Stuhlhofer-Mayr cleverly incorporated the sign of Hermes, the famous Greek god responsible for wealth, luck and fertility. The cleverest and most mischievous of all the Olympian gods, Hermes was also their herald and messenger.

Claudia Stuhlhofer-Mayr’s 1996 Musique des Dieux carre is filled with instruments and frolicking gods making music, Music of the Gods.

This spectacular design has never been re-issued making it a somewhat difficult and a rare find and in this colorway a truly divine carre.

The Inspiration for the Musique des Dieux Hermes Scarf by Carre de Paris
Musique des Dieux by Claudia Stuhlhofer-Mayr (1996 ) – SOLD

Cuirs du Desert Hermès…Loti’s Aziyadé

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Françoise de la Perrière has designed some truly exceptional scarves for Hermes and in my humble opinion, the Cuirs du Desert is one of them.

Hermes in its tradition to “scorn all walls, fences and restrains of the spirit” undertook to make 1988 The Year of Exoticism and to go beyond borders in the spirit of Pierre Loti. 

Pierre Loti gained fame for his semi-autobiographical novel Aziyadé, which was published 1879. As a young French Naval officer, Loti found himself in Turkey, where he fell in love with a much younger harem girl, Aziyadé. In his book, Loti describes both his love for the harem girl and his love affair with the Turkish culture, which quickly gave birth to his fame as well as his exotica persona.

It is then no surprise, that Hermes took its Fall/Winter Collection that year to exotic Turkey where the brilliant jewel tones of both the collection and the streets of Istanbul fought the drab of winter.

Françoise de la Perrière, a former art teacher, joined Hermes in the 1950s and her first work La France, was commissioned by Robert Dumas and issued in 1959.

Madame de la Perriere has described herself as “a perfectionist, who is lazy, an extrovert who appreciates quiet“.  Known to enjoy tranquility along with fixing things around the house, Madame de la Perriere, draws her inspiration from classical music.

As part of the Year of Exoticism, her Cuirs du Desert blends detail with elegance and her carre is both bold and exotic as it is classy.

CUIRS DU DESERT HERMES SILK SCARF EARLY 1988 ISSUE