Hermes Les Cavaliers d’Or (Knights of Gold)

This stunning traditional Hermes scarf feels little used.  It has a very few small marks on it, but these won’t show when worn, and it retains all its original depth of colour, weight and detail, yet it has the lovely drapey feeling of a vintage scarf in really excellent condition. There is no care label.

Designed by Vladimir Rybaltchenko, the first issue of this scarf dates from 1975, launched to coincide with an exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, titled ‘Scythian Gold’.

The scarf depicts a solid gold Scythian pectoral breastplate c. 4th century BC, and other gold items discovered in the Ukraine, all on display at the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

The breastplate once adorned the chest of a tribal king of the nomadic Scythians, contemporaries of the ancient Greeks, composed of three highly intricate layers. The bottom layer portrays mystical and wild beasts, the middle portrays plants and flowers, and the top layer portrays Scythians performing domestic tasks with their domesticated animals.

This is one of Hermes’ most popular scarf designs, and has been reissued numerous times.

Each reissue has something slightly different about it, for instance, the position of the Hermes copyright, and signature ‘Rybal’ (for short) change around a little. In the original issue, the signature, ‘Rybal’, appears beneath the jewels in the bottom right-hand corner, and the Hermes copyright is included within the jewel on the bottom left.

The artist, who signs his Hermès designs Rybal is the great nephew of Philippe Ledoux.

Born as Vladimir Rybaltchenko, he is the father of another Hermès great, Dimitri Rybaltchenko. Both son and father have designed some of the most popular and sought after Hermès carrés.

Vladimir’s father was born in Kiev and left Russia shortly after the revolution. Educated as a bridge engineer, he worked for Renault and Citroen once he emigrated to France. It is said that he had a lovely singing voice and it was this talent that caught the ear of a young French aristocrat, Alice Ledoux.

Alice, the youngest and fourth child, was born and raised in England. Her three brothers were all accomplished. One is credited with translating works of Shakespeare, Dickens, Defoe, Poe and Tolkien into French. Another brother, Albert, was an ambassador. Her undoubtedly most famous brother, was Philippe Ledoux. The artist, who helped catapult and shape the Hermès carré; responsible for so many unforgettable scarves we still love today.

Alice’s father, much younger than Vladimir, objected to the marriage, but the marriage took place nonetheless. That union produced three children, Boris, Vera and Vladimir. Vladimir became a sculptor and painter and like his great uncle, Philippe Ledoux, worked for Hermès. Vladimir died in 2002 leaving behind a legacy.

Vladimir Rybaltchenko was responsible for a number of very memorable scarves as well among them Les Cavaliers d’Or, possibly one the most popular designs of all.

Some of Monsieur Rybal’s other creations include: Au Plus Dru, Fleurs et Carlines, La Fontaine de Barthold, La Marine a Rames (started by Philippe Ledoux and finished after his death in 1975 by his nephew Vladimir Rybaltchenko), Nikko, Siam, Dessins D’Orchidees, British Heraldry and Tutankhamun.