THE BUY E R S GUIDE COL L ECT ING HERMÈ S SCAR VE S


The Hermès scarf, or carré, as it is properly known, has been described as the female equivalent of a Swiss Army knife. In other words, it’s always useful for a girl to keep one about her person. Worn with varying degrees of flair by characters as diverse as Queen Elizabeth II, Audrey Hepburn and Madonna.


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Will Farmer is our antiques & collectors expert, he is well known for his resident work on the Antiques Roadshow, he has also written for the popular ‘Miller’s Antique Guide’. Those in the know will have also come across him at ‘Fieldings Auctioneers’. We are delighted that Will writes for Live 24-Seven, he brings with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise.


Worn around heads, necks, waists and wrists it has enjoyed constant popularity since its launch in the 1930s when the late Robert Dumas (who became director of Hermès in 1951) was inspired to produce a large silk square to be used as a riding accessory for the company’s wealthy clients. Since then, according to Hermès’ records, more than 2,000 designs have been created for the carré by numerous artists and vintage versions now incite a collecting passion that keeps plenty of enthusiasts coming back for more.


Hermès was founded in 1837 as a harness and bridle shop in Paris. It took another hundred years before the company would design a scarf, using the same silk that lined its riding jackets. The first print, called ‘Jeu des Omnibus et Dames blanches’, debuted in 1937, and was created from a woodblock engraving by Robert Dumas, a member of the extended Hermès family. Named after a popular parlour game, the scarf featured a group of women


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BUYERS GUIDE HERMÈ S SCAR VE S


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