Cartier: Innovation Through the 20th Century

by CHAILLE, FRANCOIS

• ISBN13: 9782080300416
• ISBN10: 2080300415
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-10-14
• Publisher: Flammarion

Summary

Cartier epitomizes creativity and individuality in jewelry design. The 175 objects featured in this book exemplify Cartier's inimitable talent and represent milestones in twentieth-century design. These archetypes of excellence are important benchmarks in the history of world jewelry, and their relevance continues into the twenty-first century. The jeweled objects in this book are reproduced at actual size, and are accompanied by illustrations and detailed descriptions from Cartier's vast archives in London, New York, and Paris. Six essays cover a broad range of topics from Cartier's colorful history, including the influence of the Ballets Russes on Cartier's forward-looking designs of 1910, the jeweler's extraordinary technical and design prowess, and the important clients and collectors who wore Cartier's most exquisite creations. This book features ingenious pieces that reveal how Cartierby setting new aesthetic, ornamental, technical, and stylistic trendsis a pioneer in the field of jewelry design. This catalog is an important reference for collectors, and includes previously unpublished photographs.

Author Biography

François Chaille, writer, art historian, and fashion expert, has written several titles published by Flammarion, including The Book of Ties (1994), Cartier: Creative Writing (2000), The Little Book of Ties (2001), Girard-Perregaux (2005), The Cartier Collection: Jewelry (2005), and The Cartier Collection: Timepieces (2006).

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. 7
Foreword	p. 9
A Dynasty Devoted to a House of Jewelry	p. 11
The Development of an Inimitable Style	p. 17
Louis Cartier and the "Ballets Russes"	p. 49
Perfect Timing: Cartier Clocks and Watches	p. 61
The Exquisite Gesture: Accessories by Cartier	p. 63
A Vision of Cultural Heritage	p. 67
Cartier's Famous Clients	p. 75
Catalogue
The Belle Epoque and the Garland Style	p. 88
Towards a Modern Style, Art Deco before Art Deco	p. 102
Cartier and Watches, a History Built on Success	p. 120
Time Suspended, the Mystery Clocks	p. 124
The Call of the East, a World of Inspiration	p. 126
Art Deco and Color Combinations	p. 152
The Ceremonial Necklace of Maharajah Sir Bhupindra Singh of Patiala	p. 162
Indian Influence and the Tutti Frutti Style	p. 166
White Art Deco and the 1930s	p. 176
Yellow Gold and New Forms	p. 204
Flora and Fauna, a Bestiary by Cartier	p. 224
The Fantastic Jewels of Maria Felix, la diva of Mexican Cinema	p. 236
Jean Cocteau, a Sword for a Poet	p. 242
A Selection of Drawings from the Cartier Archives	p. 248
Chronology	p. 268
Bibliography	p. 270
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.