Hermés Scarves
The now iconic Hermés carrés (meaning ‘square scarves’), first went into production exactly a century after Thierry Hermés opened doors to what is now one of the most prominent luxury fashion houses on the planet. Robert Dumas, a family member, created the must-have accessory using a woodblock and silk stronger than anything else available on the market – making it the most versatile and sought-after accessory amongst the Parisian high society.
Whether tied to a saddle, around the neck or as Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco did in 1957, used as an arm sling, the intricate and colourful designs quickly cemented its place as an elevated wardrobe staple. The creation process lives up to the thorough and meticulous reputation of the house, as each pattern takes over a year to finalise. Only releasing 12 designs per year, each motif can be traced back to the year of production and artist. This plays a key role in identifying whether your Hermés scarf is genuine, here are some factors you should be looking out for:
- Artist signature on every piece (sometimes subtle and hard, or fun, to find!)
- Hermés logo, and a copyright circled ‘c’.
- Hand-rolled hems – always facing upwards.
- Exact colour match with the thread.
- Clear and vibrant colouring.
Hermés Scarves at Auction
With each pattern telling a story, here are some from our February 20th Handbags and Accessory sale:
Meaning ‘Queen’ in Latin, this design was first introduced in 1972 and inspired by our Royal Queen Elizabeth II. Depicting an exquisite bouquet of wildflowers, it was later re-issued in 2002 to celebrate and honour the Queen's Golden Jubilee.
Phillipe Ledoux is widely referred to as a legend when it comes to Hermés. His impact on the brand was huge, having created some of the most collected carrés to this day, ‘Cosmos’ being one of them! He was enlisted by Dumas himself, and his illustrations can be enjoyed in 90 scarves created throughout his career.
Patricia Preuschoff | Catalogue Manager, Handbags and Accessories
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