Hermès L’Instructions du Roy Cashmere Silk 140

Designer: Hermès
Pattern: L’Instructions du Roy
Color: Navy
Size: 140cm
Material: 65% Cashmere, 35% Silk
Artist: Henri d'Origny
First Issued: Original Motif 1993
Condition: In overall excellent condition. Some fuzziness, otherwise I don't see any notable signs of wear.
Includes: Box, tissue paper and will always include signature Abigail Goodman gift wrap
Notes: Inspired by “The King’s Instruction in the Exercise of Horse Riding,” a 17th-century manual by Antoine de Pluvinel for King Louis XIII of France. Pluvinel believed that kindness was more effective than severity when training horses, treating them not as machines but as responsive, sentient beings. He founded a riding academy in Paris and wrote his renowned guide as a dialogue with the young king, accompanied by exquisite etchings by Crispin de Pas. Henri d’Origny’s design draws on this tradition, pairing steel bits with braided fabric reins. Also, how incredible is the detail in the jacquard?!

From The Hermes Fall-Winter 1993/94 Seasonal Scarf Booklet: The advantage of being a king is that one usually had this role from birth, and was raised for it. A king's masters neglected nothing that could help him reign in the best way. And the skill taught most carefully was riding. How could one rule a kingdom if one could not manage a horse? Monsieur de Pluvinel hoped that his royal pupil would be "an attractive and good rider", because then he would be this kind of king, as well...

From The Hermès Fall-Winter 2012/13 Seasonal Scarf Booklet: Instruction of the King in the Exercise of Riding on Horseback-/ thus was baptized the book by Antoine de Pluvinel, squire of Louis XIlI, King of France and Navarre. De Pluvinel knew, as early on as the 17th century, that to break a horse, "kind-ness outweighs severity." Thanks to him, the animal became a sensitive, thinking being. He founded an academy in Paris and wrote the aforementioned book illustrated with beautiful etchings by Crispin de Pas; in the form of an interview for the young king. The few etchings that conclude the work describe in particular the bits that he recommends. Henri d'Origny has linked these steels rods to laced reins in fabric: curves and scrolls trace a decoration of foliage in the style of Louis XIV.