Manufacturer: Cartier Year: Circa 1980 Case No: 199'968 Material: Gilt brass, onyx and mother-of-pearl Calibre: Quartz Dimensions: 140mm Length and 230mm Height Signed: Case and movement signed Accessories: Accompanied by Cartier presentation box.
Catalogue Essay
Made in France and sold at Cartier Paris, this attractive desk clock was inspired by the art deco movement of the 1920s. Displaying onyx and enamel decorated panels, it even has a beautiful mother-of-pearl dial, evoking the lavish and glamorous designs of the early 20th century. During this period, Cartier had released this model with a number of hard stone dials, ranging from nephrite to jasper, all with the present dial and cabochon form above a rectangular base.
Consigned by the original owner, the present desk clock is accompanied by its original traveling Cartier case.
With 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.