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.’"

https://www.througheternity.com/en/blog/art/columbus-hall-maps-vatican-museums.html

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)

1789 Liberté Égalité Fraternité

Poste et Cavalerie

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

Hermès Scarf - Poste et Cavalerie

Hermès Scarf - Poste et Cavalerie - 
Designed by Joachim Metz in 1987.

These panels are examples of cavalry "sabertache".

A sabretache is a flat, leather pouch or satchel with long straps traditionally worn by some cavalry and horse artillery officers from the left-hand side of the waist belt near to the officer's saber.  "Tasche" can be translated as "pocket" or "bag" or "case" in German.  

There is a central image - epaulet?

Since it looks like the blue center is surrounded by fringe, it is not likely to be a bag front.

But maybe those are not supposed to be fringe but rather embroidered gold threads.

Around the center are eight bag fronts.

The center bottom is the only one in the gray color.

Beneath it is the HERMÈS - PARIS.

There are three in green.

 They alternate with a red ones.  The red ones are all identical.

The artist's signature, "J. Metz" (Joachim Metz) is in the fringe on one corner.

The copyright is in the braid on another corner.

Like all Hermès scarves, this drapes beautifully and gives lots of options to wear.

You can choose which color to display by how you arrange the scarf.

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

Hermes Scarf Guides is a great source of information on the history of each scarf, as well as information on how to spot fakes.  Here is some information from that site.

“Poste et Cavalerie” by Joachim Metz was originally issued in 1987. The early issues missed the accent on Hermès and the font was quite shaky. Subsequent re-issues corrected these problems. There are several vintage FAKE versions that appear from time to time on Ebay. The Italian version with the “Hermès Paris” and caleche logo printed in the corner is easy to spot.

There are eight sabretaches in this design. Four alternate ones are the same. Those at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock show different emblems, the one at 3 o’clock having the number 4 very obviously featured. This is a sabretache from the French 4th Regiment of Hussars.

Many of the fakes are missing the title which should be just inside the inner circle towards the centre. If there is no title then it is a FAKE.

Missing these indicators make the scarf a FAKE. But remember the newer FAKES that seem to be photo accurate and copy all the right indicators including the copyright marks. Having all these right DOES NOT MAKE THEM GENUINE!

Historical note:

The sabretache is derived from a traditional Hungarian horseman’s flat leather bag called a tarsoly. Early examples have been found the tombs of Magyar warriors from the 10th century Conquest of Pannonia. They were often strengthened and decorated with silver plates and would have contained fire-making tools and other essentials.

Hussar Cavalry became popular amongst the European Powers in the early 18th century and a tarsoly was often a part of the accoutrements. The German name sabretache was adopted, tache meaning "pocket". It fulfilled the function of a pocket, which were absent from the tight fitting uniform of the Hussar style. Part of the wartime function of the light cavalry was to deliver orders and dispatches.... and the sabertache was well suited to hold these.

Hermès Scarf - 1789 Liberté Égalité Fraternité

  

1789 Liberté Égalité Fraternité

This scarf was designed by Joachim Metz for Hermès in 1989 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Republic of France.

On the right the Déclaration des Droits de l'Homme et du Citoyen is being written.  The figure is Marianne, a symbol of the République, who represents liberty, freedom, brotherhood.

These are the Rights of Man and the People.

Here's a contemporary painting showing the rights.  These became important in the history of the United States.

Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, painted by Jean-Jacques-François Le Barbier  in 1879.

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizens was set by France's National Constituent Assembly in 1789, and 200 years later, this scarf was designed to commemorate the event.

The Declaration was written by Abbé Sieyès, and the Marquis de Lafayette, with help from Thomas Jefferson.  Many of the rights in this declaration will be found in the United States Constitution and its amendments, especially the Bill of Rights.

On the left, Marianne holds the scales of justice:

The top of the scarf (shown here upside down) says "République Française".

The scarf is identified as Hermès in one corner.

The care tag is still attached.

Joachim Metz, the artist, is identified on the red/white/blue ribbon.

 The Hermès copyright is written vertically on the end of this bundle.

This is a very striking scarf.