1034
Cartier
A very rare and attractive gold, silver, moonstone, agate, enamel and diamond-set minute repeating desk clock with enamel dial and diamond-set hands
Full-Cataloguing
- In excellent overall condition for its age
- Accompanied by an associated presentation box and key
- Show no signs of restoration
Louis Cartier joined the family business in 1898 at the age of 23, bringing a fresh perspective that propelled the maison into new realms of ambition and artistry. As an Haute Joaillerie maison, Louis inherited impeccable taste, refined cultivation, and an open mind, aspiring to carve a distinctive niche within the world of timepieces. His designs drew heavily upon the Louis XVI style, characterized by sumptuous gold decoration, while integrating his own personal aesthetic of pure, geometric lines. The result was a design language that would come to define Cartier's enduring identity.
The present desk clock, dating from circa 1910s, perfectly embodies Louis Cartier's design philosophy. Featuring various colours of enamel with patterns, the present iteration is distinguished by a combination of gold, silver, and green guilloché enamel, a wonderful interplay of considerable sophistication. Delicate and elegant, the clock is set upon an agate base that beautifully complements the rich tones of the clock body. The enamel dial is well-preserved, encircled by a ring of white enamel dots, while rose-cut diamond-set hands enhance the overall brilliance of the piece. A moonstone pusher at the top activates the minute repeating function, allowing the hour and minutes to chime elegantly, reminiscent in its sonorous purity, of a cathedral bell.
The clock is accompanied by an associated fitted presentation box stamped with initials E. H. T. on top, possibly the name of the previous owner who customized the box to house the clock. In excellent overall condition, the clock shows no signs of restoration – a beautifully preserved and striking piece of art by Cartier, and a testament to the enduring allure of Louis Cartier's vision.
Cartier
FrenchWith the Constitution of 1848 came a new standard for luxury in France. Founded one year prior by Louis-Francois Cartier, the house of Cartier was one of the first to use platinum in jewelry making. This incredibly expensive material became the stepping-stone for Cartier to experiment in form, mechanisms and attitude. It helped men move from pocket watches to wristwatches, effectively making the watch much more functional and prominent in a man's overall wardrobe.
Cartier did not only touch on functionality. Inspired by a commissioned painting by George Barbier featuring a black panther at the feet of an elegantly bejeweled woman, Cartier began incorporating wild animals in his designs—most notably, Cartier Panthère rings, bangle bracelets and watches. Yet it wasn't until the late 1960s that the house of Cartier debuted their iconic yellow and rose gold LOVE collection, which includes the famous bracelet that only a special screwdriver can open.