The foundation of this private collection was laid in the 19th century by Emil Hermes, the representative of the third generation of HERMES. He himself traveled a lot and bought the things that interested him, which are now antiques. The curator of the museum Manu de Basel says: “The collection - more than 11,000 items - is devoted to the theme of travel and everything related to horses, horse racing and hunting. So, the museum stores a lot of old chests and travel bags. In such chests, made to order, they kept dishes, cutlery, tea and coffee sets (it was then decided to carry everything with them, even if they stayed in hotels).

There is, for example, a chest of approximate Napoleon I. This item is equipped with a special protective mechanism. One key opens a branch in the lower part, intended for securities (the key is inserted into the holes hidden in a secret drawer). The second key launches the screws with which the chest is attached to the floor, and it does not budge. Such travel bags of the highest quality were very practical - they made it possible to comfortably place all things, keep them in order and know where everything lies. Despite their utilitarian character, they were perceived as objects of art and were finished with precious materials - a diner (stingray leather, popular in the 18th century) and a tortoise shell. ”

This secret meeting is seen by few. Constantly entrance to the museum is allowed only to designers of the House HERMES: they find inspiration for the new collections of the brand in the antiques stored here. “This assembly is based on the principle of quality,” says Manu de Basel. “These are not only works of art reflecting the style of a particular epoch in the history of decorative and applied arts and the tastes of the owners. This and impeccable things that show the ability to work with the skin and illustrate the techniques of the old masters. Thus, the museum has an educational function. Designers learn a lot here. ” Some items are given to exhibitions devoted to horses, for example, or to the filming of historical films (for example, the 18th century binoculars were involved in the film "Marie Antoinette" by Sofia Coppola).

There are in the museum and the actual things of the House HERMESmade in the XIX-XX centuries for carriages and first cars. And even a few samples ... of the furniture of this brand. It turns out that the company also produces home accessories. But strictly limited and exclusively for the order. This tradition has been going on since the beginning of the 20th century. The museum stores, for example, stools HERMES in style ar-deko, trimmed with leather The company in the 1920s and 30s even existed a whole department dealing with interior decoration. Repeatedly collaborated with this brand and the famous French decorator of those years, Jean-Michel Franck.