The visual embodiment of modernist principles, the Art Deco movement celebrated the triumph of technology and the sleek, liberating forms of the machine age, its emphasis on structure responding to a widespread rejection of the seemingly excessive ornamentation of Art Nouveau. Art Deco designs, in contrast, were not necessarily simpler but rather more linear and streamlined, favoring the androgynous silhouettes that dominated the new vogue. Innovation abounded as artists and architects developed new relationships between form and function, experimenting with texture, dimension and unorthodox combinations of stones.

The Art Deco era is considered by many experts to be the golden era for Cartier. It employed the finest designers and craftsmen, and with royalty, film stars and business tycoons among its clientele, there were few limits to its creative ambitions. Color, ingenuity and attention to detail are at the forefront of Cartier jewelry from the era resulting in an everlasting interest from collectors still captivated by the jewels’ timelessness.

A rare jewel, this Cartier bracelet exemplifies several themes seen throughout the movement with its sharp geometric design, focusing on line and volume. The era’s fascination with Persian styles is reflected in the use of lapis lazuli and turquoise, an abstraction of the trend favoring the material rather than the motif. The analogous color combination of purple, blue and green is contrasted with differences in opacity; amethysts and diamonds interact with light while the lapis lazuli and turquoise serve as a solid color palette. This bracelet is a strong representation of Art Deco’s unprecedented level of creativity, resulting in a jewel that to this day remains iconic, refreshing and wearable.