The art of travel is a constant theme with Hermès. In fact, the very first scarf from the French house features a horse-drawn carriages, which was inspired by the “playing board of an eponymous game (the Jeu des omnibus et dames blanches),” according to the official release. Founded by Thierry Hermès in 1837, the house of Hermès started as a harness maker and saddler.
Hermès Heritage – In Motion is the follow-up instalment to its two other presentations: Harnessing the Roots and Rouges Hermès.
This latest exhibition features rare pieces from its archives, the Hermès Conservatoire of Creations, the Émile Hermès collection as well as contemporary pieces, and charts the different stages of travel from the time when humans started innovating and creating to fulfil their wanderlust and wayfaring ways.
Directed by Bruno Gaudichon, curator of the “La Piscine” Museum of Art and Industry in Roubaix, as well as exhibition designer Laurence Fontaine, one of the highlights of this exhibition is the Pippa writing desk, which can be conveniently closed up and put away discreetly after use.
Other standouts include the Bolide picnic bag, which was designed for the wife of Émile-Maurice Hermès in the 1920s, and served as a prelude to customised luggage and travel accessories by Hermès; the Inversables, two columns of glasses specially designed to not spill no matter how rough the seas got; as well as the child carriage with a full leather interior that was harnessed to goats to get it moving.
Hermès Heritage – In Motion runs from 11 May to 19 May 2019 at Hermès, Liat Towers, 541 Orchard Road. 10.30am to 8pm daily. Admission is free.