Photo courtesy of Hermès
Objets de Curiosité was designed by Rosa Maria Unda Souki (Instagram: undasouki) for the Hermès Autumn/Winter 2022 collection. The carré depicts the cultural heritage of the art collection at the Émile Hermès Museum, which was founded by Émile-Maurice Hermès (1871-1951), the son of Charles Émile Hermès and grandson of Thierry Hermès, the founder of Hermès. An introduction about Émile-Maurice Hermès from the Hermès website: “Throughout his life, Émile Hermès was an avid collector of works of art, books, objects and curiosities. The collection is constantly enriched by his successors and continues to be a source of inexhaustible inspiration for the house’s creations.”
The museum used to be Émile Hermès’ office and it nestles on top of the Hermès flagship store - 24 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris. Since the exclusive museum is open by private appointment only, the carré Objets de Curiosité allows Hermès lovers to learn more about the soul of the company.
Photo courtesy of Hermès
The Hermès catalogue briefly describes the scarf as follows: “An office resembling a cabinet of wonders—this is Emile Hermès’ domain in rue du Faubourg Saint Honore. Carefully displayed in this astonishing Aladdin’s cave is a goat cart, Carmelite quilling, an Amazon’s slipper, walking sticks with secret mechanisms, precious travel cases, paintings, and books, among many other things. With her bird’s eye perspective, Venezuelan artist Rosa Maria Unda Souki gives us glimpses of this magical world. Right at the bottom, the Hermès firework maker astride his horse and invites us to cross the threshold of the building, whose roof is topped with a fragrant garden. An invitation to embark on a static journey…”
The artist paints a one-point perspective bird’s eye view of the museum interior. The iconic Hermès tile floor is arranged at the centre of the carré, the railings encircling three floors to form different sizes squares and lead the viewer's eye to Monsieur Émile Hermès’ domain. In a wood-panelled office with velvet drapes, the rich collection is drawn meticulously on the carré.
Photo courtesy of Hermès
Next to Monsieur Émile Hermès’ desk is the horse tricycle of the little Imperial Prince Eugène, son of Napoleon III. The goat cart is displayed at the opposite corners of the horse tricycle. It was designed to be harnessed to a goat instead of a pony. The genius design is specifically for little children who could ride it in the parks or gardens.
Photo courtesy of Hermès
Photo courtesy of Hermès
Some objects became the source of inspiration for the house’s creations such as the 18th-century Paper Roll artwork horse carriage and walking sticks. These two groups of precious objects have been selected as the carré designs and also appeared on the carré Objets de Curiosité.
Photo courtesy of Hermès
A Bolide bag is hidden in the corner with two trunks aside. Monsieur Émile Hermès created the first Bolide bag in 1923 for a friend who travelled often and was passionate about the automobile. In the same year, Hermès filed a patent for the zipper to be utilised in the production of leather goods. The Bolide bag became the first handbag with a zipper closure. Since the word “Bolide” means racing car in French, the bag’s initial name “le sac pour l'auto" was renamed Bolide.
Photo courtesy of Hermès
The rooftop garden is illustrated in four seasons' scenery and encompasses the museum on four sides. The arch doors and windows are set into different seasons' scenery. The colourway 10 seems to paint the night scenes, a pair of angels from the rooftop garden guard the main entrance of the flagship store in spring.
As the light shines through the entrance, a horse behind the door tells the company has been rooted in equestrian culture since 1837. A world-class windows display thrives in the summer season, and the platform exhibits ideas, concepts and collections about the annual theme.
The historical elevator with wrought iron and shiny art decor brightens up the autumn season. The logo with two intertwined H evokes the marriage between Emile Hermès and Julie Hollande in 1900.
The fireworks maker proudly carries the flags with “Hermes Paris” and “Objets de Curiosité” in the Winter season. Apple trees, magnolia, green grass and so on form a fresh and sweet-smelling atmosphere that attracts bees to this secret hanging oasis in the heart of the city.
Once the symbol of Napoleon, the bee is believed to be one of the oldest symbols of French royalty and later became widely used in France. The zipper plays an important role in Hermès’ history. A symbolic zipper seals the rooftop garden and bees together, implying both the bees and Hermès have always had a place in the hearts of French people.
Although this is the first time for the artist to collaborate with Hermès, the design ties beautifully because of the perfect drawing proportion between the stairs, museum, rooftop garden and bees border. As the large objects at four sides and four corners are drawn right side up towards the centre, the objects remain the right side up after being folded.
Seasons come and seasons go, and flowers bloom and fade away, but the objects and curiosities remain concealed in the Émile Hermès museum over decades. In contrast to the static of the objects and the movement of life, the art piece subtly tells the relationship between the permanence of historical objects and the transience of time.
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