We were privileged to be given a personal tour of the Art of Cartier at the National Museum of Singapore, courtesy of our contact at the museum.

Glamour, royalty and exceptional design come to mind when we think of Cartier.

This exhibition is a homecoming of sorts, as the National Museum‘s relationship with Cartier began 12 years ago when the museum hosted a small display of Cartier designs.

Our guide shared with us that the exhibition designers liked the Gallery Theatre’s design so much that they incorporated it in this exhibition.

Notice the red bricks and lighting?

An interesting piece which caught our eye was this Crocodile Necklace owned by Maria Felix.

Crocodile Necklace
Cartier Paris, special order, 1975 © Cartier
“Entirely articulated, the two crocodiles can be worn separated as brooches or together as a necklace. When worn around the neck, the feet can be replaced by clawless paws that will not irritate the skin.” © Cartier

Maria Felix © Cartier

The story behind this is that Maria Felix approached Cartier to design jewellery based on her baby pet crocodiles. And they had to do it fast as the baby crocs were growing pretty big. And they delivered.

Imagine receiving a trunk of jewels and asked to create the most unique and elaborate jewellery ever. This was the case in 1926, where Cartier’s Parisian jewellery workshops received precious stones from the Maharajah of Patiala, who wanted his stones remounted in Parisian style.

Maharajah of Patiala, Yadavindra Singh © Cartier

This necklace was discovered again in 1998 in London, in very poor condition. Cartier took it upon themselves to restore the necklace to its original splendour.

Necklace
Cartier Paris, special order, 1928 © Cartier

We were most intrigued by this Mystery Clock, particularly the science behind it.

Invented by Maurice Couet, “Their hands seem to float in space without any visible connection to the movement. They are in fact fixed to a crystal disc with a toothed metal.” © Cartier

Portico Mystery Clock
Cartier Paris, 1923 © Cartier

If you’re interested in discovering more mysteries of the clock, do take part in the guided tour.

We learnt that Jean Cocteau of Beauty & the Beast fame, had initially approached Picasso to design a sword for him and was mocked.

Hence he approached Cartier to make him a sword which captured and expressed his life’s achievements.

Jean Cocteau’s academician’s sword
Cartier Paris, 1955 © Cartier

We asked our guide, a colourful character in her own right, to point out her favourite item to us, with the necessary disclaimer that we couldn’t afford to purchase anything she liked.

Tutti Frutti Necklace Cartier Paris, special order, 1936, altered in 1963 © Cartier

This necklace was owned by Mrs Daisy Fellowes, often named ‘the world’s most elegant woman’ by magazines of the 1920s and 30s.

Pretty much a fit, as our guide was very much a funky & feisty fashionista.

It was a glittery experience and very much the eye opener (most of it caused by the precious stones on displayed), and we felt that we were walking through a timeless,
opulent and lavish boutique. This exhibition is currently running at the National Museum of Singapore, from now till 17 October 2006.
All images reproduced with the kind permission of Cartier and National Museum of Singapore.