A rare Cartier flower brooch, set with a finely carved ruby and a high-quality diamond, offered with its original Cartier box and the original insurance valuation paperwork stamped Cartier. Crafted in the 1940s, the brooch exemplifies Cartier’s period mastery of form and finish: the delicate floral motif, precise gem settings and sumptuous material choices are unmistakably of the House.
The ruby—likely Burmese—serves as the brooch’s luminous centre; the surrounding diamond enhances the piece’s sculptural elegance, and represents a water drop on a finely carved petal. The pin has been carefully remade to reproduce the original fitting, which was replaced at some point, preserving both wearability and the brooch’s historic silhouette.
This jewel carries distinguished provenance. It belonged to the Bishop family: Mr. Bishop served Cartier in London and Paris and acted as a representative of Jacques Cartier’s estate. He was consulted during the 1946 inquiry into the theft of Jacques Cartier’s personal effects. This brooch would have likely been gifted to Mr. Bishop’s wife, Ethel, at some point during Mr Bishop’s career with Cartier. This brooch forms part of a larger number of items gifted to the family from the house including a rare Cartier Tank London from 1963 which is also being offered for sale at Mendel’s.
A rare Cartier flower brooch, set with a finely carved ruby and a high-quality diamond, offered with its original Cartier box and the original insurance valuation paperwork stamped Cartier. Crafted in the 1940s, the brooch exemplifies Cartier’s period mastery of form and finish: the delicate floral motif, precise gem settings and sumptuous material choices are unmistakably of the House.
The ruby—likely Burmese—serves as the brooch’s luminous centre; the surrounding diamond enhances the piece’s sculptural elegance, and represents a water drop on a finely carved petal. The pin has been carefully remade to reproduce the original fitting, which was replaced at some point, preserving both wearability and the brooch’s historic silhouette.
This jewel carries distinguished provenance. It belonged to the Bishop family: Mr. Bishop served Cartier in London and Paris and acted as a representative of Jacques Cartier’s estate. He was consulted during the 1946 inquiry into the theft of Jacques Cartier’s personal effects. This brooch would have likely been gifted to Mr. Bishop’s wife, Ethel, at some point during Mr Bishop’s career with Cartier. This brooch forms part of a larger number of items gifted to the family from the house including a rare Cartier Tank London from 1963 which is also being offered for sale at Mendel’s.
