Diamond brooch-pendant mounted in platinum, convertible to necklace and small brooch, by Cartier, Paris, ca. 1908

Platinum and diamond brooch-pendant, convertible to necklace and pendant. An openwork diamond pendant is composed of symmetrical, pavé-set strapwork with foliate decoration. In the lower section is a substantial collet-set diamond. There are five subsidiary collet and pavé-set articulated pendants. The principal pendant is suspended from two openwork chains of ribbon form, composed of collet and pavé-set diamonds. The terminals at the tops of the chains perhaps show a Persian influence.
The brooch-pendant is complete in its original case with two different brooch fittings and a screwdriver to enable it to be used in any one of three ways, as necklace, brooch-pendant or brooch.
The case (M.13:1-2019) is of red leather with stamped gold decoration. The case leans back slightly so that it can act as a vertical display case standing on its foot. The interior of the doors, which open down the middle, is lined in silk printed with Cartier's name and addresses. The interior of the back of the case is lined in black velvet. The velvet lining lifts to reveal compartments now containing the two brooch fittings: the longer one for use when the jewel is a brooch-pendant, the shorter one when only the pendant is worn. The longer brooch fitting would originally have been screwed in place across the top of the chains, and from it the brooch-pendant would have hung in the case: the velvet lining has a stiff back and is formed to allow for the pin.
Also in the compartments behind the velvet backing are a characteristic Cartier two-pronged screw-driver (M.13:2-2019) and two velvet ribbons with fittings enabling them to be attached to the tops of the diamond chains. The ends of the ribbons have been cut off and these short ends are joined by a spring ring clasp. It seems likely that the ribbons were cut so that the necklace could be adjusted to a shorter length.

Accepted under the Cultural Gifts Scheme by HM Government and allocated to the Victoria and Albert Museum, 2019

This diamond and platinum brooch-pendant is complete in its original case with two different brooch fittings and a screwdriver to enable it to be used in any one of three ways, as necklace, brooch-pendant or brooch. When sold it was presented in its case as a brooch-pendant, a broche draperie, a brooch hanging from chains draped from two separate elements.

This diamond and platinum brooch-pendant is an outstanding example of a convertible early twentieth-century jewel by Cartier, Paris. It is complete in its original case with two different brooch fittings and a screwdriver to enable it to be used in any one of three ways, as necklace, brooch-pendant or brooch. It was made to be presented in its case as a brooch-pendant, a broche draperie, a brooch with garlands draped from two separate elements. It has all the qualities of flexibility and lightness which made Cartier famous in the early years of the twentieth century when the firm led the way in the use of thin-gauge platinum settings which replaced the heavier silver settings used for diamonds in the 19th century.

M.12:1 to 6-2019