Cartier Jewellery Collection

PRECIOUS OBJECTS

Practical and always elegant, the precious objects from the Cartier Collection reflect the Cartier art de vivre, going beyond the value of materials. The Maison's creativity allows it to devote its savoir-faire to functional and decorative objects that are known for making the everyday exquisite and the exquisite even more spectacular.

PERFUME BOTTLE

Cartier Paris, 1872
Silver, silver-gilt, crystal, enamel

DESK CLOCK ON INKSTAND

Cartier Paris, 1908
Silver, silver-gilt, yellow gold, platinum, sapphire cabochons, diamonds.

MUGUET

Cartier Paris, 1908
Opal, aventurine, enamel, agate, rose quartz, wood, ivory, glass

VANITY CASE

Cartier Paris, 1924
Gold, platinum, mother-of-pearl, turquoise, emeralds, natural pearls, diamonds, enamel
The design of this object is inspired by Persian book bindings dating from the 15th to the 17th century. As Louis Cartier collected Persian manuscripts, it is possible that the motifs on this piece were inspired by a work of art that belonged to him.

Egyptian Sarcophagus vanity case

Cartier, 1925
Gold, platinum, engraved bone, diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, onyx, enamel
The engraved bone plate representing a standing female figure comes from the apprêts. The term apprêts referred to a stock of fragments from disassembled jewellery and other objects, including ancient items from Persian, Indian, Chinese, and Egyptian art.
Sold to Mrs Blumenthal

POWDER BOX WITH LIPSTICK CASE

Cartier Paris, 1925
Gold, platinum, mother-of-pearl, ivory, lacquer, diamonds, emeralds, enamel
This object was exhibited by Cartier at the Paris International Exhibition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts in 1925. The ivory-inlaid plate comes from the apprêts. The term apprêts referred to a stock of fragments from disassembled jewellery and other objects, including ancient items from Persian, Indian, Chinese, and Egyptian art.

CHINESE VANITY CASE

Cartier Paris, 1926
Gold, platinum, laque burgauté, ruby, emerald, sapphire, coral, diamonds, enamel
Cartier often used small plates, imported from the Far East, in black lacquer inlaid with mother-of-pearl, known as “laque burgauté”.

PANTHER VANITY CASE

Cartier Paris, 1928
Yellow gold, platinum, black enamel, diamonds, emeralds, rubies, onyx cabochons.
This item is part of a series of cases inspired by Georges Barbier’s drawings of panthers, dogs, and gazelles.

CIGARETTE CASE

Cartier Paris, 1949 (transformation of a vanity case from 1929)
Gold, platinum, diamonds, mother-of-pearl, coral, enamel
Sold to Pierre Cartier who gave it to Jeanne Toussaint (1887-1976

EVENING BAG

Cartier New York, 1957
Yellow gold, platinum, carved coral, diamonds, emerald and sapphire cabochons, velvet.
Provenance: María Félix (1914-2002).

TIGER LORGNETTE

Cartier Paris, 1908
Silver, silver-gilt, yellow gold, platinum, sapphire cabochons, diamonds.Cartier Paris, commissioned in 1954
Gold, enamel, emeralds
The lorgnette was stored in a brocade pouch with the inscription: «Please return to HRH The Duchess of Windsor Reward».
Provenance: the Duchess of Windsor (1896–1986)

ACADEMICIAN’S SWORD MADE FOR JEAN COCTEAU

Cartier Paris, 1955
Yellow gold, silver, emerald, rubies, diamond, ivory, onyx, blue enamel, steel blade.
This sword was designed by Cocteau himself but was given to him, as tradition dictates, by his friends upon his election to the Académie Française. The blade came from a swordsmith in Toledo while the emerald was donated by Coco Chanel and the rubies and diamond by Francine Weisweiller.