No he is to the best of my knowledge living in the US.
in his apron behind his table at H as I knew him for many years..
Hope he is doing very well, wherever he is.
That's great to know. I no longer live in NYC, so I haven't kept up. Thanks so much for the update!No he is to the best of my knowledge living in the US.
He was & still is an extraordinary craftsman, charming & sheer delight to have a H conversation with
as well as other non H conversations.
I miss seeing him
I know that Peter Nitz in Zurich is currently using Elephant hides in his beautiful work. Nevertheless, I don't take it out the US when I travel. Yes, after all these years she's still a beauty. I'll be lucky to age half as well!
Your bag is lovely with such beautiful patina. Duret offers an option for legally culled Elephant as well.
He was indeed.Claude was the best! My parents used to call him “the Patron Saint of Hermès”.
Thanks, that's good to know. It's interesting because the sides of the bag have much of the original, matte finish. I've left it as it is, as that bag has been with me through much of my life. It has many stories to tell and it's had a life of its own! OTOH, I am very glad that it can't talk...Your bag is lovely with such beautiful patina. Duret offers an option for legally culled Elephant as well.
No, I can't take it out of the US, as I didn't need or get a CITES cert when I bought it. I simply paid the duty and that was that. I won't even tell you all how much it cost because you will SCREAM when you realize how much H has increased their prices over the years 🤐 Let's just say that you MIGHT be able to score a rather beat up, pre-owned garden party bag today for what I paid back then. The day that I bought it, the Paris flagship had the PdE and a black box Kelly. I'm not sure that Togo even existed back then. In the past (because of travel, and because I adore elephants) I have sometimes regretted buying the PdE, but as the SA advised me that day, it has proven to be MUCH sturdier than box.
I had a dear friend who was Iranian but grew up in India. Years ago, he once asked me if I wanted to see his shatoosh shawl. He had it carefully wrapped in archival tissue and secreted away in a wardrobe drawer. It was a beautiful, pale oatmeal color and exquisitely soft, but I think the rarity and forbidden fruit aspect made it that much more appealing. I'm VERY glad that endangered species are now protected, but it is human nature to pursue that which is both exclusive AND elusive. I gather that to this day, people still jump through hoops and break the law to get shatoosh.
