The Shapes of Cartier
Cartier, Paris
A yellow gold Art Deco purse watch with ‘guillotine’ shutters, Circa 1929
No reserve
Auction Closed
June 15, 08:08 PM GMT
Estimate
8,000 - 14,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Dial: silvered dial signed Cartier, black outer minute track, blued steel moon hands
Movement: 9¾’’’ LeCoultre frosted gilded circular movement, lever escapement, 15 jewels, bi-metallic compensation balance with timing and poising screws, Breguet hairspring
Movement number: numbered beneath the dial 60'035, 5
Case: 18ct yellow gold, the front with Roman numerals inlaid with black champlevé enamel, a trio of raised pyramidal studs above and below the chapter ring set against a finely ribbed background, sides and case back ribbed ensuite, two central polished gold ‘guillotine’ shutters heightened by black champlevé enamel monogram, shutters opening to reveal the dial by means of sapphire cabochon-set pushers to either end of case, ridged flat winding crown, case top secured by four screws, case sides with French eagle’s head control mark and punch for Edmond Jaeger
Case number: inside case back numbered 14, internal framework with hand stamped numbers to plate beneath cover 21'651, 60'035, 14
Box: yes
Papers: no
Accessories: original fitted Cartier presentation box
Jader Barracca, Giampiero Negretti, Franco Nencini, Le Temps de Cartier, Milan: Publiprom, Second Edition, 1993, pp.148-150.
The purse watch was developed for use by both men and women and the concept created an infinite number of decorative possibilities, with ingenious forms of sliding, hinged and sprung openings designed both to please the user and impress the casual observer. At a time when the wristwatch was still to gain universal acceptance, the purse watch offered a striking alternative to both the wristwatch and the traditional pocket watch. A modern and stylish form of timekeeper that was ideally suited to the Art Deco period, the purse watch was a genre that allowed its creators to experiment with form and decorative techniques in entirely new and inventive ways.