Object Description
A fine framed Hermès 90 silk square of Cerès, by Françoise Faconett, circa 1967, the goddess of fertility with a mosaic torso and head, her arms and legs as sheaves of grain being enjoyed by birds, all amongst the signs of an abundant harvest of nuts, fruits, cereals, flowers and vines, in polychrome and gold with a pink border. French, circa 1967.
Published: Shown in another colourway in Geneviève Fontan ‘Carres d’Art: Dictionaire Illustré des Carrés Hermès’, Paris 2024, p.70.
Footnote: One of many enticing things about Hermès scarves is the different designs that work on the pieces. This wonderful pink and gold scarf, ‘Cerès’, was designed by the highly talented designed Françoise Faconett.
Faconett’s work really stands out, with her keen attention to detail, brought to life through intricate patterns, painstaking detail and multiple elements in her designs. She often draws her inspiration from the natural world, mythology, and historical motifs.
The ‘Cerès’ brought out in 1967, then later reissued in 1990, depicts the Roman Goddess Ceres. She was the goddess of agriculture, fertility, grains, harvest and motherhood – her better known Greek counterpart is Demeter. The mosaic style of the goddess herself in this scarf highlights the Roman influence. Whilst having her surrounded by vines, flowers, fruit and birds brings out her role as a goddess of harvest.
As you look through the scarf you can see indicate details from Faconett, that can reflect Cerès’s story; from the pomegranate in the bottom corner (possibly symbolic of her daughter Proserpina in the Underworld) to the cornucopia motifs across the left and right hand sides in different elements of the image reflecting fertility and abundance.