For 30 years, Xavier Guerrand-Hermès of the renowned Paris-based fashion empire collected both stunning North African jewelry and historic late 19th- and early 20th-century photographs by some of the region’s most prominent photographers. Highlights from the collection will begin a national tour at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art on Oct. 8. “Desert Jewels: North African Jewelry and Photography from the Xavier Guerrand-Hermès Collection,” will continue through Jan. 11, 2009, before traveling to several other venues.

The exhibition and national tour are organized by the Museum for African Art in New York and sponsored by Merrill Lynch.

“The Xavier Guerrand-Hermès Collection is remarkable for its breadth,” said Sharon F. Patton, director of the National Museum of African Art. “Each piece of jewelry, each photograph, provides a rare opportunity to view works and images of cultures mostly unfamiliar to American audiences.”

“From simple ornaments that would be worn by a child to elaborate jeweled necklaces for women of wealth, the Xavier Guerrand-Hermès Collection is a treasure that reflects the richness of the cultures of North Africa as well as the collector’s superlative taste,” said Elsie C. McCabe, president of the Museum for African Art in New York.

“Desert Jewels” features approximately 80 pieces of spectacular jewelry and a selection of photographs from Algeria, Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia that were collected by Guerrand-Hermès, a director and vice chairman of Hermès of Paris. He represents the fifth generation of the family to be involved in the ownership and management of the Paris-based firm.

Featured Jewelry and Photographs
Crafted from combinations of silver, coral, amber, coins and semi-precious stones, the exquisite collection includes wedding necklaces, hair ornaments, bracelets, earrings and fibula used to keep veils in place. The pieces represent the inventive compositions and dazzling creations of North African jewelry designers and silver workers. North African jewelry came to the attention of Western collectors in the 19th century, the period when archaeological monuments in North Africa were being explored, visited and, in some cases, pillaged.

The most important photographers of the day are represented in the exhibition, including Scotsman George Washington Wilson, the Neurdine brothers from France and the Turkish photographer Pascal Sabah. They, and others, visited the region and photographed landscapes, architecture, markets and people adorned in jewels. Many of the images were used as postcards, while others remained hidden in private collections.

Educational Programs
In conjunction with the exhibition, the museum will offer a series of free educational activities for families and adult audiences. Highlights include an art workshop for ages seven and up titled “Berber Beads and Jewelry.” In December, art historian Cynthia Becker will discuss Berber arts from Morocco, Algeria and Niger. An “Amazigh Arts in Morocco: Women Shaping Berber Identity” book signing will follow. Call (202) 633-4640 or visit africa.si.edu for a complete schedule of public programs.

Sponsors and Catalog
“Merrill Lynch is pleased to partner with the National Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C., and the Museum for African Art in New York to bring these never-before displayed pieces and photographs to the viewing public,” said Brett Bernard, Merrill Lynch regional managing director, Global Wealth Management, Washington, D.C. “We truly recognize the importance of investing in the preservation and development of cultural and educational programming in the communities where we work and live.”

A full-color catalog, with contributions from art historians Tina Loughran and Cynthia Becker, accompanies the exhibition.

About the National Museum of African Art
The National Museum of African Art is America’s only museum dedicated to the collection, conservation, study and exhibition of traditional and contemporary African art. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except Dec. 25. Admission is free. The museum is located at 950 Independence Avenue S.W., near the Smithsonian Metrorail station on the Blue and Orange lines. For more information about this exhibition, call (202) 633-4600 or visit the museum’s Web site at africa.si.edu. For general Smithsonian information, call (202) 633-1000 or TTY (202) 633-5285.

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Note to Editors: Selected high-resolution images for publicity only may be downloaded from africa.si.edu/exhibits/hermes/press.html. The password is jewelry.

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