Hermes Pierre Loti ou l’ame Voyageuse MINT!

For the traveller in your life! Spot the many countries depicted on this extraordinary Hermes scarf!

This sought after bright and quirky Hermes scarf is in mint condition, complete with original folds and care tag.  The design is so unusual and original, as is the personality of its subject, traveller Pierre Loti, that we’ve never come across anything else remotely like it!

A rough translation of ‘au l’ame voyaguese’ could be “at the soul of travel”. This glorious, hard-to-find, fascinating scarf is a tribute to the exotic traveller and author, Pierre Loti. It was designed in 2009 by Cyrille Diaktine.

You can spend many happy hours studying its scenes, including photographs taken from around the world – India, Thailand, Egypt, Japan, many of which feature Loti himself over the years, as a young man, with his family, and dressed in a variety of traditional ancient costumes. including the central piece – Loti masquerading as an ancient Egyptian at a dress party.

Pierre Loti (pseudonym of Julien Viaud), was born January 14, 1850 in Rochefort, Charente-Maritime and died June 10, 1923 in Hendaye. Loti was a French novelist and naval officer. At his best Pierre Loti was unquestionably the finest descriptive writer of the day. His delicacy of description, and sensitivity to form, colour, sound and smells – he was without a rival.

Elaine Sciolino, the Times Paris correspondent, wrote (abridged):

In 1891, when a seat opened up at the Académie Française, there was a fierce contest between two writers: Pierre Loti and Emile Zola. Loti, at the age of 41, won. Zola never made it into the exclusive club of “immortals.” And yet today, Zola remains one of France’s most-read and most-revered novelists; Loti is mostly forgotten.
A novelist, naval officer, scuba diver, world traveller, journal writer, art collector, amateur bodybuilder and acrobat, Loti created an international following in the early part of the 20th century. Born Louis-Marie-Julien Viaud, he was first called “Loti” in Tahiti, after an island flower; the actress Sarah Bernhardt gave him the name “Pierre.” Although he has faded into obscurity, his peculiar world is still on display in the three-story house where he was born and lived on and off for most of his life, in the town of Rochefort, 250 miles southwest of Paris.
Loti was an eccentric of his era, who collected sperm whale teeth, Senegalese bracelets, Egyptian cat mummies, and Japanese mobiles. He posed nude except for a small genital covering to disprove rumors that his sculptured, small-waisted body was corseted.

His house includes a Gothic room – a heavy, Spanish-style dining hall, inaugurated in 1888 with a dinner dedicated to King Louis XI. Guests, who came in period costume, were invited months before so they could learn to converse in medieval French. There’s also an Arab room, and a Turkish salon.
In the Red Room there is a photograph of Loti posing as an Ottoman warrior, sword at his side and horned helmet on his head.
As Henry James, a longtime fan, once wrote: “Loti belongs to the precious few who are not afraid of being ridiculous.”

It would seem that Diaktine visited the house and used some of the photographs and artefacts on display to illustrate his extraordinary creation.

Cyrille Diatkine is an accomplished Hermès scarf designer with a diverse portfolio that captures the imagination of fashion enthusiasts worldwide. His designs showcase a keen sense of style and an appreciation for the intricate details that make Hermès scarves highly sought after.

Cyrille’s work with Hermès spans a wide range of themes and motifs, reflecting his eclectic interests and artistic vision. His scarves are known for their intricate patterns, bold colors, and exceptional craftsmanship, which have made them some of the most popular and highly prized accessories in the world of luxury fashion.

Some of the stunning scarves designed by Cyrille Diatkine for Hermès include:

En désordre
Jeu des omnibus et dames blanches 1937
Joséphine danse
Kelly en calèche
Le monde est vaste
Piqué sellier
Tours de clés
Rendez-vous rive gauche
Astrologie nouvelle
Suite et poursuite
Le saut h
Brides de gala en désordre

Cyrille’s ability to seamlessly blend traditional artistry with contemporary design has cemented his reputation as a visionary designer in the world of luxury fashion. As he continues to collaborate with Hermès, Cyrille Diatkine’s innovative designs will undoubtedly contribute to the fashion house’s enduring legacy of elegance, sophistication, and timeless style.

My Little Hermes collection writes: It’s bright, it’s weird, it’s a scarf destined to be in Ye Olde Scarf Drawer. It ties like a dream, and I’d love to play with other colorways.

Hermes writes:  this carre looks back at the epic of Pierre Loti and his insatiable desire for elsewhere. His peregrinations have inspired many writings, sketches and photographs. A hive of images have inspired this carre, a sort of puzzle reuniting the many lives and facets of the writer: the young army recruit, the proud French Camel Corps soldier, the naval officer, the Turkish dandy, the eccentric orientalist, and many more. Signs of places visited, collages of photographs, objects and portraits… the carre turns into an exotic travel diary where we find this famous phrase: “Oh, how good it feels here, but how disastrous this desire that grasps me, to always want to depart again.”