The Art of Cartier

Nearly 400 pieces from the historic Cartier Collection of the legendary French jewellers Cartier have been on display at the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza from October 2012. The exhibition presents a comprehensive selection of the finest jewels that Cartier has repurchased over the course of the decades in order to assemble a representative collection of the Maison’s production and to show the evolution its style during the first half of the 20th century. Exhibits range from the great tiaras and the so-called Garland style of the early 20th century to Art Deco jewels and others inspired by exotic places (China, Egypt and India, including the famous “tutti frutti” pieces), gold jewellery of the 1930s and 1940s and one-off commissions for leading personalities of the century such as Wallis Simpson, Grace Kelly, María Félix, Elizabeth Taylor and Coco Chanel. This is a major exhibition that introduces visitors to one of the world’s finest jewellery collections, allowing us to appreciate the creativity and mastery of Cartier’s designers and artist-jewellers over the course of more than one hundred years.