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An Exhibition Exploring the History of Cartier Is Now on Display
“Cartier: Design, Craft, and Legacy” opened earlier this month at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
The “Cartier: Design, Craft, and Legacy” exhibition brings more than 350 historic objects out of the brand’s archives. It opened on April 12 and will run until Nov. 16 at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. (Image © Victoria and Albert Museum, London)
London—The Victoria and Albert Museum in London’s South Kingston neighborhood has a new exhibition that charts the history of Cartier.
“Cartier: Design, Craft, and Legacy” is the United Kingdom’s first major exhibition dedicated to the brand’s jewels and watches in almost 30 years, the museum said.
It shows Cartier’s evolution into “an unparalleled force in the jewelry and watch world,” showcasing its art, design, and craftsmanship since the turn of the 20th century.
More than 350 objects will be featured, including jewelry, historic gemstones, watches and clocks.
Drawings from the V&A and Cartier archives also are on display for the first time, along with works from the Royal Collection lent to the museum by King Charles III, and objects on loan from major U.K. and international museums, and private collections.
Throughout the years, Cartier’s client list has included royalty and members of the aristocracy, becoming known as “the jeweler of kings and the king of jewelers.”
Highlights of the exhibition include the Williamson diamond brooch Queen Elizabeth II commissioned in 1953, Princess Grace’s engagement ring from 1956, Mexican film star María Félix’s snake necklace from 1968, and a collection of the brand’s signature “Panthère” jewelry.
The exhibition explores how Louis, Pierre, and Jacques Cartier, along with their father Alfred, transformed the Parisian family jeweler into a household name.
It is divided into three main sections.
One explores the creativity of Cartier and the emergence of its signature style, another shows the legacy of its technical ingenuity and craftsmanship, while the third addresses the brand’s approach to image-making and maintaining its legacy and relevance in a changing world.
The exhibition also highlights the history of Cartier London, culminating with a display of tiaras.
“Cartier: Design, Craft, and Legacy” is the United Kingdom’s first major exhibition dedicated to the brand’s jewels and watches in almost 30 years, the museum said.
It shows Cartier’s evolution into “an unparalleled force in the jewelry and watch world,” showcasing its art, design, and craftsmanship since the turn of the 20th century.
More than 350 objects will be featured, including jewelry, historic gemstones, watches and clocks.
Drawings from the V&A and Cartier archives also are on display for the first time, along with works from the Royal Collection lent to the museum by King Charles III, and objects on loan from major U.K. and international museums, and private collections.
“Cartier: Design, Craft, and Legacy” includes Princess Grace’s Cartier engagement ring, which she wore in her final film “High Society.” (Image courtesy of The Princess Grace Foundation)
Throughout the years, Cartier’s client list has included royalty and members of the aristocracy, becoming known as “the jeweler of kings and the king of jewelers.”
Highlights of the exhibition include the Williamson diamond brooch Queen Elizabeth II commissioned in 1953, Princess Grace’s engagement ring from 1956, Mexican film star María Félix’s snake necklace from 1968, and a collection of the brand’s signature “Panthère” jewelry.
The exhibition explores how Louis, Pierre, and Jacques Cartier, along with their father Alfred, transformed the Parisian family jeweler into a household name.
It is divided into three main sections.
One explores the creativity of Cartier and the emergence of its signature style, another shows the legacy of its technical ingenuity and craftsmanship, while the third addresses the brand’s approach to image-making and maintaining its legacy and relevance in a changing world.
The exhibition also highlights the history of Cartier London, culminating with a display of tiaras.
The Cartier “Stomacher” brooch was a special order from 1913. It features carved crystal and diamonds set in platinum. (Image © Cartier)
The “Patiala” necklace was commissioned by Bhupinder Singh, the Maharajah of Patiala, with diamonds, topaz, lab-grown rubies, smoky quartz, citrine, and yellow and white zirconia set in platinum (Image © Cartier)
One of the many tiaras in the exhibition is the “Scroll” tiara worn by Elizabeth II to her coronation and by Rihanna on the cover of W magazine in 2016. It was commissioned for the Countess of Essex in 1902 with diamonds in silver and gold. (Image © Cartier)
This is the Mountbatten Bandeau in Tutti Frutti style from 1928. It features emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and diamonds set in platinum. (Image © Victoria and Albert Museum, London)
Of the many watches included in Cartier’s exhibition is the “Crash” wristwatch that was made by Wright & Davies for Cartier London in 1967. The watch uses sapphire, gold, and blue steel, along with a leather strap. (Image © Cartier)
This brooch was crafted by Cartier London in 1933 with amethyst, sapphires, and diamonds set in platinum. It was worn by Jacques Cartier’s wife Nelly. (Image © Cartier)
Helen Molesworth and Rachel Garrahan, who also worked as editors on the exhibition’s accompanying book, “Cartier,” curated the exhibition.
The 256-page book features more than 150 Cartier pieces. It was published by V&A Publishing, in association with Cartier.
The book debuts on May 27 and is available for pre-order now. It is $70.
It is also available at the V&A Shop for a special price of £35 ($46.43).
The Cartier: Design, Craft, and Legacy exhibition opened on April 12 and will run until Nov. 16.
Tickets are £27 ($35.80) for weekdays and £29 ($38.45) for weekends, with V&A members entering for free.
For more information on the event and to purchase tickets, visit the V&A website.
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