Jewellery by Cartier Christie's Geneva Auction Hardcover Book

About the Item

Jewellery by Cartier Christie's Published by Christie's, Geneva, 1992, Auction Hardcover Book Catalog. The Art of Cartier Habsburg Feldman auction hardcover. 135 page catalog June 28, 1988, 216 fabulous lots. This is a fine hardcover copy with a fine dust jacket with no wear at all. Completely clean. This is a sale catalog for an auction held at Christie's Geneva on May 21, 1992. Sale code: CARTIER. There were 270 lots in the sale. All illustrated in color. Title: Jewellery by Cartier Publisher: Christie's, Geneva Publication Date: 1992 Binding: Hard Cover Condition: Fine Dust Jacket Condition: Fine Hardcover with dust cover. Dimensions: 11 in x 8.5 in. Cartier was founded in Paris in 1847 by Louis-François Cartier, the legendary French jeweler, although it was his three grandsons, Jacques, Louis and Pierre, who were responsible for launching the brand name worldwide. Indeed, so successful were they that we can read across from the story of Cartier to the wider history of the twentieth century: a Panther clip brooch bought by Wallis Simpson in 1949; the now-infamous Ruby Suite presented to Elizabeth Taylor by her third husband, Mike Todd, in 1957. The Art of Cartier offers a comprehensive selection of the finest jewels that Cartier has repurchased over the years, in an attempt to assemble a representative collection of the Maison’s production and to show the evolution of its style during the first half of the twentieth century. The items on exhibit range from the great tiaras in the so-called “garland” style of the early twentieth century to Art Deco jewels and others inspired by exotic places (including the famous Tutti Frutti bracelet of diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires all nestled in a frieze of foliage), gold jewelry of the 1930s and 1940s and one-off commissions for leading personalities of the century such as Coco Chanel, María Félix and Grace Kelly. This sumptuous catalog includes color photographs and introduces us to one of the world’s finest jewelry collections, allowing us to appreciate the creativity and mastery of Cartier’s designers and artist-jewelers over the course of more than 100 years.

Creator:
Cartier (Jeweler)
Dimensions:
Height: 11 in (27.94 cm)Width: 8.5 in (21.59 cm)Depth: 0.75 in (1.91 cm)
Style:
Art Deco (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Paper
Place of Origin:
Europe
Period:
1990-1999
Date of Manufacture:
1992
Condition:
good.
Seller Location:
Moreno Valley, CA
Reference Number:
Seller: CART12241stDibs: LU906842728192

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Cartier

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.

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