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Thursday, September 17, 2020

Voiles de Lumière - Hermès Scarf

 

Voiles de Lumière, a Hermés scarf, was designed by Joachim Metz and first issued in 1995.   The title means "Sails of Light".


This shows MARE JONIO (Ionic Sea), which is found between Sicily and Greece.  Here's a map:

As the scarf shows, Europe is on the top left and Asia on the top right.
(Notice there is no accent on the first E of Éurope.
Hermès must have lost their accent marks in 1995.)

Asia is ASIE


They have also lost the accent on the title, which should be LUMIÈRE.

In the following picture, the "Hermès Paris" does have an accent mark.

The pennant says, 
Christophorus Columbus Ligur.
Novi Orbis Repertor
Christopher Columbus the Ligurian, Discoverer of the New World.
This image is in the Vatican, Hall of Maps.
"Columbus, dressed in the triumphant guise of a Roman emperor as he speeds away from Genoa and down the Ligurian coast. Compass grasped in his hand like his very own sceptre of power, he sits forward in his golden chariot as his white toga is whipped around his shoulders by a sea breeze. No less a figure than the sea-God Neptune himself guides its course, standing on a massive sea-shell lashed to the backs of four sea-horses thrashing the foamy sea with their hooves. A merman trumpets through a conch as he leads the way, carrying aloft a banner confirming the venerably bearded man’s identity: ‘Christopher Columbus of Liguria, Discoverer of the New World.’"

At the center top of the scarf is the date of the event shown - 1572.
I have found many interesting things that happened in 1572, but none that relate to this scarf.
If you have any ideas, let me know!

The artist's signature, J Metz, is shown in the bottom right corner.  The three-line care tag is intact.

A pennant with the lion of St. Mark is prominent in the center of the scarf, planted on the center of the compass rose.
The flag is also in the bottom right corner.  Notice that it also has the date MDLXXII.  I have not been able to find out the significance of the flag or the date.  If you can help, please, let me know!  
The other flags on the scarf are also probably significant.  Perhaps that is research for a cold winter day.

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I have no doubts that this is a genuine Hermès scarf, but I wonder why they lost the accent marks.

Hermes Scarf Guide  shows the missing mark on the Hermès copyright on a genuine scarf.  This is interesting because one of the things you look for to determine authenticity is the accent mark.


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Like all the Hermès scarves, this drapes well.  Depending on how it is tied, you can focus on the green or the gold, or the mix.  Another fun scarf!



Joachim Metz has become a favorite.  
I have these scarves that he created:
This one:  Voiles de Lumière.
Luna Park (black and red)

To see the other Hermès scarves I have blogged, click here.

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