The Magical Art of Cartier

Geneva, Nov 19, 1996

LOT 253

"Pendulette de voyage à répétition minutes", 18K yellow gold and onyx, eight day going, minute repeating carriage dock Paris, 1925

CHF 43,000 - 50,000

USD 35,000 - 40,000

Sold: CHF 74,750

Rectangular with gold framed onyx panels, the top one applied with a rose-cut diamond-set platinum monogram, the bezel with black champlevé enamelled Roman numerals on a matted ground, the dial covered with a mosaic of king fisher feathers, and rose-cut diamond-set hands. Brass rectangular movement with going barrel, frosted and gilt platform with straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, Breguet balance spring. Minute repeating on gongs with agate push piece on the top. Measuring approx. 10 x 7.5 x 6.5 cm. Accompanied with fitted leather box. Cartier Certificate of Authenticity N° 2253.


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Notes

Between 1925 and 1930, king fisher feathers were occasionally used for the decoration of dock dials and exceptionally for other parts of the the dock itself. ln Cartier - Splendeurs de la Joaillerie, Catalogue of the exhibition in Lausanne at the Fondation de l'Hermitage 1996, the dial of a small strut dock in nephrite was covered with a fine mosaic made of king fisher feathers (No. 72 page 43) and and a rock crystal mystery dock "Modèle A", (No. 105 page 52) had the chapter ring and the frame covered with a mosaic of king fisher feathers. Due to their fragility, king fisher feathers were scarcely used by Cartier and docks decorated with them are extremely rare. Together with lot No. 431 this dock demonstrates the highly decorative quality of such an unusual element which apparently has never been used by other makers. Provenance: Previously in the H. Robert Green Collection, this dock was exhibited in New York at the Rétrospective - Louis Cartier, No. 112 of the catalogue, page 59.