Art Deco Sterling Silver and Gold Clock by Cartier, Paris, circa 1927
Art Deco Sterling Silver and Gold Clock by Cartier, Paris, circa 1927
A clock of geometric form designed as a rectangle atop a stepped base, the face with roman numerals with gold hands and a gold frame, the sides of the clock with rectangular door-knocker handles, with gold accents on the top and bottom edge; in sterling silver and 18-karat gold; with French assay marks and British importation and assay marks for 1927; in a fitted box
- The face signed Cartier, stamped JC for Jaques Cartier, the bottom signed made in France, numbered
- Measurements: 5 5/8 × 5 1/8 × 3 1/8 inches
Biography
Cartier was founded in Paris in 1847 by Louis-François Cartier. His three grandsons, Louis, Pierre, and Jacques, built the house into a famous international jewelry empire serving royalty, Hollywood stars, and socialites. Cartier has created some of the most important jewelry and objects of art of the twentieth century with many iconic designs such as mystery clocks, Tutti Frutti jewelry and the Panthère line. In 1983, The Cartier Collection was established with the objective of acquiring important pieces that trace the firm’s artistic evolution. Today, Cartier has 200 stores in 125 countries.
Significance
The beginning of the twentieth century brought significant changes in society and advances in manufacturing. New technology increased production, made cars and trains faster, and allowed buildings to be built taller and bridges longer. The relationship between man and machine impacted art and design. Stripping down the decorative excess of earlier artists, a group of designers emerged who adopted a mechanical aesthetic later known as Art Moderne or Streamline Moderne. Artists embraced the role of machinery in modern life, foregoing naturalistic ornamentation and using materials that played on volume using light and shadow. The designers at Cartier were keenly aware of the rise of modernity and it showed in their groundbreaking designs, particularly those in polished silver.
Cartier devoted an entire department, called S for silver, to create “elegant gifts and everyday consumer goods.” The talented Jeanne Toussaint was put in charge of the newly created S Department in 1918 and remained there until Louis Cartier promoted her to design director of the company in 1933. The objects and clocks produced under Toussaint helped the company weather the Great Depression. At the height of their success, the department accounted for one-third of the company’s sales. With unlimited imagination they produced a variety of functional and beautiful objects.
With a pristine polished silver surface and impeccable geometric design, this clock would have stood out amongst the objects created by the S Department. A study in light and shadow, the bold forms and polished surface create dynamic forms that keep the eye moving. The rectangular dial is echoed by the door-knocker handles created with the same ratio. An elegant and pure design, iconic of the 1920s, this clock would be a magnificent, sculptural addition to any art collection.
