1970s HERMES Carre 90 HARNAIS DE COUR Brown Cream Silk Scarf

This carré was made in France for Hermès in the 1970s, in silk, with the Harnais de Cour design in brown, cream and white. It measures 90 cm square. The design, attributed to Philippe Ledoux, one of the house's leading scarf artists, takes as its subject the ornate harness used for court and ceremonial occasions. Hermès had been founded in 1837 by Thierry Hermès as a harness maker, and its first silk carré appeared in 1937.

The 90 cm silk square became one of Hermès's most recognisable products, each design created by an artist and printed with many colours. Equestrian themes, from saddles and bridles to carriages and horses, were central to the repertoire, connecting the scarves to the house's origins. In the 1970s the carré was a classic of elegant dressing, worn at the neck, over the hair or on a bag.

Court harness was the most decorative form of equestrian equipment, made for parades and state occasions. Depicting it on a scarf celebrates craftsmanship and ceremony, values that Hermès associated with its own identity as a maker of fine leather and harness.

The restrained palette of brown, cream and white gives the detailed harness design a classic, timeless character. The square composition presents the harness as an ornamental pattern, and the silk carries the fine lines of the drawing with clarity.

Vintage Hermès carrés are among the most collected designer scarves, valued for their artistry and their place in the house's history. This Harnais de Cour, in very good condition with minimal wear, can be worn or framed.