Cartier's long history shines at the V&A Museum in London
On show until 16 November, more than 350 pieces of jewellery, some of which belonged to royalty and celebrities, recounting the creativity and entrepreneurship of the dynasty that founded and grew the maison
3' min read
3' min read
LONDON - In 1902, the Prince of Wales, later to become King Edward VII, described Cartier as "the jeweller of kings and the king of jewellers", granting the first London shop the royal warrant, the coveted award for royal excellence.
A major exhibition just opened at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London tells the story of an unparalleled jewellery dynasty, from its origins to the present day, through more than 350 precious and extremely rare creations, from necklaces to tiaras, from vanity cases to watches and from rings to brooches.
"Exhibitions usually have subtitles, but in this case we agreed that the name is enough," said Tristram Hunt, director of the V&A, at the opening. Cartier immediately evokes elegance, innovation, art, imagination, creativity, great craftsmanship and beauty'.
Louis-François Cartier had founded the eponymous shop in 1847 in Paris, but it was his three grandsons Louis, Pierre and Jacques who transformed their grandfather's small family business into a world-famous and celebrated brand with offices in Paris, London and New York. Their customers included the royal houses of the time, aristocratic families from all over Europe, American billionaires, Indian maharajahs and then Hollywood stars.
Under the banner of Louis' motto 'always innovate, never imitate', the three brothers sought and found inspiration for their creations in 18th century France and Tsarist Russia, but also in China and Japan, Persia and ancient Egypt, the Islamic world and India.
