A RARE ART DECO LACQUER AND GEM-SET CIGARETTE BOX, BY CARTIER

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A RARE ART DECO LACQUER AND GEM-SET CIGARETTE BOX, BY CARTIER
Of rectangular outline, the lid with central lacquer and dyed mother-of-pearl plaque depicting a Chinese nocturnal scene with cabochon and calibré-cut sapphires representing the moon and its reflection in the water, set between two faux tortoiseshell panels with scroll motifs decorated with coral, to the coral clasp and stepped ebony base, opening to reveal two wooden compartments, circa 1925, 24.2 x 12.5 x 5.9 cm., with French assay mark for gold
Signed Cartier Paris, Londres, New York, No. S139

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

This style of lacquer work, known as 'lacque burgauté', is of Chinese origin and involves dying layers of mother-of-pearl into pink, blue, green and purple tones, so as to create vivid contrasts of colour in extremely detailed scenes.
Towards the end of the Qing dynasty (1644-1912), this method spread to Japan, which became the centre of industry in the nineteenth century. It is also believed that most of the lacquer used by Cartier was either made in Japan or in the neighbouring Ryukyu islands.

Cf. J. Barraca, G. Negretti, F. Nencini, Le Temps de Cartier, Wrist International Srl, Milan, 1989, p. 79

Cf. Christie's Geneva, Jewellery and Objects by Cartier, 27 May 1993, lot 825

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