Other highlights

To celebrate the opening of the Maison, Hermes has introduced an exclusive range of products available only at the Shanghai outlet.

The products come in two colors - described by the house as "China Red", a color close to crimson, and "Shanghai Blue", a deep navy blue - and are available only in limited editions.

Pegase d'Or

This giant scarf in blue silk twill was inspired by the works of Leonardo Da Vinci and features a print of the mythical winged horse.

The handmade scarf, which includes 3,422 18k gold beads and 16 cultured South Sea pearls, required 190 hours of craftsmanship, and also features hundreds of glass beads that fill the horse's wings and hoofs and act as a background for the more-expensive stones.

Haut a Courroire

A replica of the first handbag, Haut a Courroire, made by Hermes at the end of 19th century, the large bag in Shanghai blue sitting atop the counter for men's leather good is jokingly described as the "Grandfather of the Birkin bag", which came into being almost a century later, after a conversation between the Anglo-French actress and singer Jane Birkin and the then-CEO of Hermes.

Pippa chairs

A pair of red Pippa chairs in show at the Maison is made from the skins of 50-year-old crocodiles.

(China Daily 09/13/2014 page15)