Saturday, January 21, 2012

Mastery of Design: The Cartier Owl, 1950-60

The Victoria & Albert Museum

This wise character was made by Cartier in Paris between 1950 and 1960. In the middle decades of the Twentieth Century, Cartier produced a line of avian-themed brooches which symbolized the world mood. During the Second World War, brooches depicting caged birds symbolized the Nazi occupation of Paris while, post-war, more frivolous designs showed a continent on the mend.

This humorous owl was meant to be worn as an informal accent during the day. Made of white chalcedony and gold, the owl’s eyes are Persian turquoise.

The obverse is marked with a “C” and 18 K as well as the following:
'Cartier FRANCE'
'18 KTS' for 18 carat gold
18359 (8 doubtful)


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