From its earliest days, but particularly since the 1940s and the arrival of Jeanne Toussaint, Cartier's world has been populated with real and fantastic animal figures. Cartier borrowed wild animals from Africa, particularly the big cats, sacred animals from Ancient Egypt, and the Fo dogs and other chimeras from China. He designed a dolphin bracelet and brooches with fierce reptiles or charming ladybirds and tortoises. His skies were full of fireflies, butterflies, birds of paradise and king fishers. Even a famous pink flamingo came in to land - on the favorite brooch of the Duchess of Windsor.
FLAMINGO BROOCH
CARTIER PARIS, COMMISSIONED IN 1940
Platinum, yellow gold, brilliant-cut diamonds, calibré-cut emeralds, sapphires and rubies, sapphire cabochons, one citrine. Sold to the Duke of Windsor.
9.65 x 9.59 cm
KINGFISHER
CLIP BROOCH
CARTIER PARIS, 1941
Platinum, yellow gold, brilliant- and single-cut diamonds, two leaf-shaped carved emeralds, weighing 17.66 carats in total, faceted and calibré-cut sapphires, two ruby cabochons
7.84 x 5.40 x 0.78 cm
BIRD BROOCH
CARTIER PARIS, COMMISSIONED IN 1948
Platinum, white gold, one emerald-cut diamond of 2.76 carats, two square-cut diamonds of 2.35 and 1.29 carats, respectively 991 baguette-, brilliant- and fancy-cut diamonds weighing 83.89 carats in total.
The exceptional dimensions (20.20 cm long, weighing 156.45 g) make this brooch a unique post-war piece of high jewelry.
Height 20.20 cm
TIGER CLIP BROOCH
CARTIER PARIS, 1957
Yellow gold, single- and brilliant-cut diamonds ranging from fancy intense yellow to near colorless, marquise-shaped emeralds (eyes), fancy-shaped onyxes (stripes)
This piece is articulated.
Sold to Barbara Hutton.
Barbara Hutton (1912–1979) was the granddaughter of the founder of the Woolworth’s retail chain, and one of the richest women in the world. On June 23, 1933, she married the Russian prince Alexis Mdivani, the first of her seven husbands. For her wedding, she wore an extraordinary pearl necklace and a diamond-studded tortoiseshell tiara, both made by Cartier. An enthusiast for magnificent jewelry, she became one of the firm’s most loyal clients.
7.00 x 4.50 x 1.50 cm
