Cartier, le style et l’histoire
Directed by Laurent Salomé and Laure Dalon
It is undoubtedly one of the brands that best symbolises the world of luxury. Its Tank and Santos-Dumont watches are icons and status symbols. But the Cartier house, founded in 1847, is not limited to its famous accessories and closely accompanied the Art nouveau and in particular the Art deco movements. This catalogue that accompanies the exhibition at the Grand Palais (until 16 February 2014), will open the archives of rue de la Paix (the Parisian headquarters that opened in 1899, a year after its neighbour, the Ritz hotel) and of international collections. It illustrates unique pieces, by associating them as much as possible with the stars that wore them or ordered them: Grace Vanderbilt, Barbara Hutton, Gloria Swanson (and her rock crystal bracelets), Wallis Simpson, Jean Cocteau (his sword of the French Academy in 1955), Maria Félix (her Snake necklace with 2473 diamonds) or the maharajah of Patiala. The house produced for this same Indian Prince, between 1925 and 1928, the undoubtedly most impressive ceremony necklace in history: a cascade of three thousand diamonds around a yellow, 234 Carat diamond. It was found again by chance in 1998, and was recently recreated based on the original plans. Luxury can also be not worrying about time.
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Review published in the newsletter #331 - from 30 January 2014 to 5 February 2014
