Hermes [S07] Blanc/Encre COSMOGRAPHIA UNIVERSALIS by Jan Bajtlik Cashmere Shawl 140 BNWTIB!

Incredible cashmere shawl, model Cosmographia Universalis designed by Jan Bajtlik. "Printed on our iconic cashmere and silk material, this giant scarf is supple, light and easy to wear. It’s the ideal companion for wrapping up on cold days"  (©Hermès)

Jan Bajtlik says :

My second “carré” scarf for Hermès women's collection : “Cosmographia Universalis”, Autumn Winter 2019, 90x90 cm, silk, available in 8 colour versions. “Cosmographia Universalis” it’s an oeuvre written by Sebastian Münster, XVI century German humanist, Hebraist, cosmographer and cartographer. I had great pleasure to study XVI century edition of this book in Cieszyn Library in Poland. The book presents comprehensive description of the world. “Cosmographia”, richly illustrated with woodcuts, shows different continents, countries, kingdoms, lands inhabited by different cultures, historical and mythical characters, real animals as well as imaginary creatures and architectural wonders. This amazing mixture of discovered and imagined world, science and legends inspired me to create a dreamed landscape with various references to woodcuts from the book. Original maquette is 90x90 cm, drawn and painted with ink and watercolours. My dog Kluska (main character of the "Animapolis" scarf) sits on the statue of the king. “Cosmographia Universalis” is also available as Carré Exceptionnel Brodé, cashmere, 140x140 cm, with hand embroidered fragments.

Behind the story :

Sebastian Münster was a cartographer, historian, astronomer, mathematician and scholar of Hebrew. His book Cosmographia Universalis was published for the first time in Germany in 1544, and one of the most widely read books of the 16th century. When Jan Bajtlik discovered an original edition in a Polish library, he was fascinated by this vision of the world made up of myths and legends. His scarf represents an imaginary landscape and combines architecture, fauna and flora. By using seahorses, sea monsters or even pyramids as models, he creates a dreamlike universe populated by extraordinary creatures.