Cartier

Introduced to the public in 1919, the Tank Normale was the first of Cartier's legendary Tank family. Its rectilinear form, inspired by the plan view of the First World War tanks, became an icon of early twentieth-century design. By the 1930s, Cartier’s Paris workshops were producing small numbers of Tanks in precious metals, each finished by hand and often made to order.

The present example, dating to around 1930, is cased in platinum and fitted with a finely constructed grain de riz bracelet and pink gold folding clasp - a rare configuration that combines refinement with the solidity associated with Cartier’s platinum work. Platinum Tanks of this era were produced in small numbers, often on special commission, and those retaining their period bracelets are particularly sought-after. This example captures the essence of Cartier’s interwar design.