Taking a step away from the fantastic world of mythical creatures of the Far East such as Dragons, Chimeras and Phoenixes that populated Cartier’s creation in the 19th century. The Asian wind blew throughout Europe with strong influences from literature and opera such as Madama Butterfly. By the turn of the 20th century, these influences from the Chinese and Japanese laid hold to a new universe for Cartier creations.

Incorporating artworks evoking Chinese life and traditions with various materials such as lacquer, jade and enamel found from everyday Chinese lacquerwares, Cartier extracted these beautiful panels and fostered elegance and refinement with a twist of Art Deco influences. Chinoiseries Objets d’art such as large clocks to small items such as vanity cases, scent bottles, lip sticks alike began to blossom during the 1900s.

The Chinese have long been fascinated by the play of light and have many ways to use it. Which the Chinese have ‘shadow theatre’, Cartier transformed this through the iridescence plates into jewels, imbuing everyday objects into exotic gems. One of the most exquisite Asian techniques that provides the perfect canvas is Laque Burgauté. The technique refers to decorating lacquer with intricate inlays of tinted mother-of-pearl. This technique was often used between China and Japan, as early as the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and reached peak popularity during the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911/12). Its popularity spread to the Ryukyu Islands between China and Japan and thence to Japan itself. In China the technique is called 'lo tien' 螺鈿 and in Japan 'aogai'青貝塗. The mother-of-pearl are usually tinted in purple or green, with a layer of lacquer applied on top and later rubbed with pumice stone to create a smooth and unblemished surface.

With recurring themes such as poetries, gardens and festivals, the quality of the rich black lacquer evokes twilight scenes under the moon light naturally sprinkled with stones and pearls. Depicted elegantly, the present scene features an elegant lady submerged in an oriental garden. Gestured with an serene, elongated hand, the lady seemed to be enjoying the night with a vase and a teacup in front of her.

Squared with four Japanese corners “Coin Japonaise”, this desk clock is crafted with translucent agate with a hint of pink hue. Each corner is decorated with a matching Japanese corner sapphire cabochon with a single diamond mounted. The hours and minutes are finished with gold and blue enamel, each Roman numeral is separated with a gold Sakura to complete the 12 hours. Crafted in platinum and adorned with diamonds, the hands are shaped with a finely pointed arrow that complements the lady’s hand.

Well-preserved and retaining its crisp engravings of “European Watch And Clock Co. inc France” on the strut, the case is further stamped Cartier N. Y indicating where this clock was potentially sold in New York.