The Cartier Exhibit

Several weeks ago a dear friend whisked me away to the Cartier Exhibit at the Denver Art Museum in celebration of my birthday.  I appreciate the gift of time with loved ones, which is priceless and treasured more than precious stones. The chill of the day called for layers, but the experience was warm and compelling.

I threw on my gifted blue Fluevog booties, Paris skinny jeans, street market scarf, retail sale blue sweater tunic, and royal blue fabric cloche trimmed with marabou feathers from a hat shop in Nice, and off to the museum we went.

Above Photos By Daniel

“The Denver Art Museum was the sole venue worldwide for Brilliant: Cartier in the 20th Century, on view November 16, 2014–March 15, 2015. Organized by the Denver Art Museum and curated by Margaret Young-Sánchez, Frederick and Jan Mayer Curator at the museum, the exhibition featured an assortment of jewelry, timepieces and precious objects produced between 1900 and 1975. The exhibition highlights Cartier’s rise to preeminence in the midst of historical events as it transformed itself into one of the world’s most prestigious names in jewelry, timepieces and objects.”… The Denver Art Museum Website HERE.

The exhibit was awe-inspiring for someone who knows little about gems and rare metals.  I was intrigued by the historical nature of the show and how Cartier responded to the political and economic circumstances of the times. The review by Denver’s Westword HERE goes into detail about the eye-popping nature of Brilliant.  I will share a few of my favorites in the photos below.

One of the highlights of the show was the necklace of platinum, diamonds and emerald worn by the Countess of Granard, Cartier London, special order, 1932.

The Maharaja, Bhupinder Singh, of Patiala in the Punjab region of India, commissioned Cartier to create the Patiala Necklace, which was completed in 1928 HERE.  It is one of the most expensive pieces of jewelry ever made.

One of the “Tutti Frutti” necklaces inspired by Cartier’s voyages to India.

A lone jewel!

The original Cartier tank HERE created in 1917.

The world time clock HERE which was gifted to Franklin Delano Roosevelt by Pierre Cartier in 1943.

A photo of a video on a wall within the exhibit, which featured women from the 20’s wearing Cartier.

The last room of the exhibit featured large images of icons who wore Cartier. Maria Félix HERE, the most famous star of the golden age of Mexican cinema commissioned two of the most famous Cartier jewelry pieces and is known for her daring and exotic collection.

Whatever its shape, the Cartier tank watch has graced the wrists of some of the world’s greatest celebrities – from Ingrid Bergman to Yves Montand and from Truman Capote to Muhammad Ali.

As I was about to walk out of the exhibit I came upon this beautiful woman looking fabulous from her metallic shoes to her lovely white hair.  I believe I’ve just started a “Captivating Crone Series.”  As you probably know by now, to me the term crone is beloved and valued, just as older women were in several cultures of the past.  I will be on the lookout for fascinating crones in my travels, and will share photos on posts in the future when so moved.

Linking up with Sheila’s Shoeshine HERE at Ephemera and Cherie’s Shoe and Tell HERE at Style Nudge.