For its extraordinary range of bracelets, watches, rings and other adornments, French luxury house Cartier is undeniably one of the most well known and internationally revered jewelers in the world among clients both existing and aspirational.
Perhaps 1847 was not the ideal time to open a new watchmaking and jewelry business, as the French Revolution was not kind to the aristocracy who could afford such luxuries. Nevertheless, it was the year Louis-François Cartier (1819–1904) — who was born into poverty — founded his eponymous empire, assuming control of the workshop of watchmaker Adolphe Picard, under whom he had previously been employed as an assistant. Of course, in the beginning, it was a relatively modest affair, but by the late 1850s, Cartier had its first royal client, Princess Mathilde Bonaparte, niece of Napoleon Bonaparte, who commissioned the jeweler to design brooches, earrings and other accessories.
Under the leadership of Louis-François’s son, Alfred, who took over in 1874, business boomed. Royalty around the world wore Cartier pieces, including Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, the Maharaja of Patiala and King Edward VII, who had 27 tiaras made by the jewelry house for his coronation in 1902 and issued Cartier a royal warrant in 1904. (Today, the British royal family still dons Cartier pieces; Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, regularly sports a Ballon Bleu de Cartier watch.)
Cartier’s golden years, however, began when Alfred introduced his three sons, Louis, Pierre and Jacques, to the business. The brothers expanded Cartier globally: Louis reigned in Paris, Pierre in New York and Jacques in London, ensuring their brand’s consistency at their branches across the world. The trio also brought in such talents as Charles Jacqueau and Jeanne Toussaint.
One of Cartier’s earliest major successes was the Santos de Cartier watch — one of the world's first modern wristwatches for men. (Previously, a large number of people were using only pocket watches.) Louis designed the timepiece in 1904 for his friend, popular Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, who wanted to be able to check the time more easily while flying.
Cartier’s other famous timepieces include the Tank watch, which was inspired by the linear form of military tanks during World War I, and the so-called mystery clocks. Invented by watchmaker and magician Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin and later crafted exclusively for Cartier in the house’s workshop by watchmaker Maurice Couët, the mystery clocks were so named because the integration of glass dials on which the clocks’ hands would seemingly float as well as structures that are hidden away within the base give the illusion that they operate without machinery.
On the jewelry side of the business, Cartier’s internationally renowned offerings include the Tutti Frutti collection, which featured colorful carved gemstones inspired by Jacques’s trip to India and grew in popularity during the Art Deco years; the panthère motif, which has been incorporated into everything from brooches to rings; and the Love bracelet, a minimal, modernist locking bangle inspired by medieval chastity belts that transformed fine jewelry.
While the Cartier family sold the business following the death of Pierre in 1964, the brand continues to innovate today, renewing old hits and creating new masterpieces.
Find contemporary and vintage Cartier watches, engagement rings, necklaces and other accessories on 1stDibs.
1986 Art Deco Style Porcelain de Limoges Vase and Vanity Box by Cartier Paris
By Cartier
Located in Aci Castello, IT
Vintage 1986 Cartier "La Maison de Louis Cartier" Porcelain Vase and Vanity Box Set. This exquisite and rare set features a porcelain vase a...
Porcelain
Haviland Limoges Demitasse Cup and Saucer Set Bone China, Art Deco
By Haviland & Co.
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Haviland Limoges demitasse cup and saucer set was made for Wright Tindale & Van Roden, high end store in Philadelphia that specialized...
Porcelain
French Limoges Bee Square Porcelain Gilt Trinket Jewelry Box
By Limoges
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Charming French Bee Trinket Box. As found in France, this piece features a hand painted Bee with white and gold gilt detailing. This square piece would certainly be a fantastic addit...
Porcelain, Paint
$64 / item
H 1.58 in Dm 8.47 in
Limoges Porcelain Collectible Plates, by Louis Dali, Sights of Paris France
By Limoges
Located in Bastogne, BE
An interesting, beautiful series «Sights of Paris», which was released by the famous French manufactory Limoge in 1980-1983. The plots for the plates were written by the artist Lo...
Porcelain
$520Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 1 in Dm 9 in
Haviland Limoges Hand Painted Art Deco Porcelain Plates Water Lilies
By Haviland & Co.
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Set of 4 unique, antique plates was made by Haviland & Cie in Limoges, France. The plates were hand painted by a professional artist in a decorating studio with Art Deco motif of five water lilies on pale blue background. Calm blue and green colors are accentuated by bright yellow centers of the flowers and the gold rims. The advent of Arts and Craft Movement created the notion that the aesthetic quality of everyday utilitarian objects could be improved by merit of craftsmanship, and many painters and artists felt inspired to merge their activities into decorative arts, such as ceramics, decor objects, or dinnerware. Large number of wholesale and retail firms, such as Pickard, Stouffer, or Brauer studios, and many high-end department stores that carried factory decorated Limoges's porcelain, had their own china decorating departments and produced high quality hand painted porcelain. Undecorated Haviland china...
Porcelain, Ceramic
Green and Black Art Deco Vase in Porcelain by Ilse Claesson, Rörstrand
By Rörstrand, Ilse Claussen
Located in Stockholm, SE
Art Deco at its best! A lovely green and black vase designed by Ilse Claesson in the 1930s at Rörstrand, Sweden. It is 11 cm high and in very good...
Porcelain
$1,292
H 9.06 in W 4.73 in D 4.73 in
Limoges Porcelain Pierrot Musician in White and Gold by Edouard Marcel Sandoz
By Edouard-Marcel Sandoz, Theodore Haviland
Located in Henley-on Thames, Oxfordshire
Edouard Marcel Sandoz (1881-1971) Figure "Pierrot Musicien", ca. 1917. Hard-paste porcelain with a white glaze, and painted gold. Signed to the base, appears to be Théodore Havil...
Porcelain
$440Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 2.75 in W 10.5 in D 9.5 in
Haviland Limoges Porcelain Serving Set, Art Deco Mogul Pattern, 1920-1936
By Haviland & Co.
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Set of 3 vintage or antique porcelain stacking serving bowls and a small pitcher features octagonal forms with twin handles on the bowls; it is decorated in Mogul pattern with yellow, gold, blue, and pink band on the rims of the bowls and on the shoulder of the pitcher, floral vignette n the centers of the bowls, and heavy gold trim on the handles. The graphic bands of decor, strongly influenced by Chinoiserie and Chinese Chippendale styles, juxtapose the decidedly Art Deco forms of the pieces, creating an unexpectedly festive presentation. The set is marked with Theodore Haviland France underglaze manufacturer's mark in green, Theodore Haviland Limoges France...
Gold
$1,566Sale Price / set|30% Off
H 1.58 in Dm 9.85 in
20th Century French Art Deco Limoges Porcelain Service Tableware 49 Pieces
By Limoges
Located in LEGNY, FR
Beautiful Art deco Limoges porcelain dinner service with a yellow border and flower decoration in the middle. 49 pieces : - 31 din...
Porcelain
$350
H 3 in W 2 in D 0.75 in
Limoges France Hand Painted Porcelain Victorian Style Boot Shoe Trinket Box
By Limoges
Located in Tustin, CA
Very pretty Limoges porcelain old fashion Victorian style lace up boot shoe shaped trinket box is handmade in France and features a white background with skillfully hand painted clusters of deep pink roses, vining green...
Porcelain
$141Sale Price|20% Off
H 2.17 in W 3.94 in D 6.7 in
Cobalt blue and gold porcelain box from Limoges, France circa 1955/60
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Pretty candy box in Limoges porcelain. Can be used in jewelry box, candy box or vide-poche. The porcelain is a beautiful cobalt blue enhanced with fine go...
Porcelain
$3,474 / set
H 5.91 in W 23.63 in D 9.85 in
Art Deco style Fish Service for 12 People by Bernardaud Limoges c. 1970
By L. Bernardaud and Co.
Located in Paris, FR
Fish service in Bernardaud Limoges porcelain for 12 people. Wonderfully decorated with a turquoise pattern and exotic fishes executed in grisaille ...
Porcelain
$699
H 4.34 in W 1.78 in D 3.82 in
Art Nouveau Flower Vase Limoges Porcelain and Silver by Joe Descomps
By Joe Descomps Cormier, Limoges
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Flower vase On one side it has a nude - Erotic lady drinking wine, and on the other a devil. Very nice quality enamel porcelain flower vase. It has silver rings on the neck and on th...
Porcelain
Sold
H 3.23 in Dm 7.21 in
Pair Of Cartier Tea Or Coffee Cups Saucers Panther For Limoges Porcelain, France
By Limoges, Cartier
Located in München, BY
Beautiful set of two Cartier Limoges porcelain cups and saucers in Art Deco style, France 1986. Decorated with black panthers and topiary bushes. Goo...
Porcelain
CARTIER Panther Motif Porcelain Trinket Tray
By Cartier
Located in Victoria, BC
Here is a lovely CARTIER Panther Motif Porcelain Trinket Tray. This tray features a gold finish and showcases a beautiful Panther motif. Stamped Made in France on verso. These tray...
Porcelain
Sold
H 0.4 in W 0.4 in D 0.4 in
Porcelain Dinnerware, Tableware by Limoges and La Maison de Louis Cartier
By Cartier, Limoges
Located in Berlin, DE
Representative dinnerware from Cartier Limoges. 34 pieces. Designed 1986. Limoges porcelain, original Cartier decor with black panthers, gold painting...
Porcelain
Set of 2 Cartier Porcelain Small Jewelry Plates
By Cartier
Located in Vilnius, LT
Set of 2 Cartier porcelain small jewelry plates in original Cartier box.
Porcelain
Set of 2 Cartier Porcelain Small Jewelry Plates
By Cartier
Located in Vilnius, LT
Set of 2 Cartier porcelain small jewelry plates in original Cartier box.
Porcelain
La Maison De Louis Cartier Gold Panther Coffee Set
By Cartier
Located in Pound Ridge, NY
Featuring gold rim and detail, the classic Cartier black panther, red inner band and green bushes; in the 1980s Cartier and Limoges France collaborated on a line of fine porcelain. Price is for coffee pot and lid, sugar bowl and lid, creamer and 12 cups and saucers (please contact us if you prefer fewer). Dessert plates and service chargers...
Gold
Cartier Porcelain Box, France
By Limoges, Cartier
Located in New York, NY
A small Cartier porcelain box made by Limoges. Made in France. With makers mark on bottom as seen in image. A great vanity or bedside box for sma...
Porcelain