The National Museum of Qatar in Doha has organised Hermès Heritage: In Motion, the final chapter in the Hermès Heritage exhibition series. This touring series is dedicated to the history of the Hermès luxury design house and manufacturer, established by Thierry Hermès in 1837, showcasing its signature themes, colours, and iconic pieces. The In Motion exhibition will welcome all visitors until 9 November 2024.
The show traces Hermès’s rich legacy in movement and travel, following the brand’s journey from a harness-maker and saddler in 1837 to an internationally recognised symbol of elegance and craftsmanship. The house emerged when modern life accelerated, meeting the growing desire for freedom of movement in a bustling world. Hermès’s designs enabled people to move effortlessly and with style, whether on foot, a horse, by car, bicycle, or plane.
Curated by Bruno Gaudichon (Curator and Director of the La Piscine Museum of Art and Industry in Roubaix, France) and designed by Laurence Fontaine, the exhibition comprises five sections, each exploring the relationship between movement, design, and humanity’s timeless urge to journey.
The In Motion exhibition includes items that inspire a spirit of travel and discovery. These are drawn from the esteemed Émile Hermès collection, the brand’s archives, the Conservatoire of Creations; some of the exhibits are contemporary pieces. The most notable objects on display feature Hermès’s first scarf designed in 1937. Inspired by a vintage board game, it is decorated with concentric circles of horse-drawn carriages: a nod to the early days of public transport in 1820s Paris.
Also on view are the Postilion riding boots, resembling the mythical seven-league boots, and the elegant Flâneur d’Hermès mountain bicycle, lightweight and durable thanks to its carbon fibre construction. Visitors can look at the Bolide picnic bag, a 1920s classic adapted from the Sac pour l’Auto, a trailblazing handbag which became the first handbag with a zipper closure.
Design innovation is celebrated throughout. The Pippa writing desk, for instance, folds compactly to the size of a briefcase when not in use, while in the cane picnic basket, a full set of cutlery can be cleverly stored. The Inversables, a set of glasses on rotating rings, are engineered to remain stable even in the roughest of seas aboard yachts or ocean liners.
To get more information about Hermès Heritage: In Motion, please go to the official web page of the exhibition.
In addition, you might be interested in viewing the Ziena Splendor of the Indian Courts exhibition organised by Sharjah Museums Authority. We would also recommend that you have a look at the Varanasi-style necklace displayed at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA).
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