Sotheby’s Hong Kong is ready to hammer Important Jewels in a live auction! From antique tiaras to contemporary designs, Sotheby’s Important Jewels auction brings together a diverse range of pieces that are sure to captivate collectors and connoisseurs alike. Some of the highlights include an outstanding private collection of Royals jewels from the turn of the 18th century to the late 19th century.
Well curated fine jadeites, coloured stones, and signed jewels from renowned jewellery houses such as Cartier, Bulgari, Van Cleef & Arpels. Join us and discover the beauty and wonder of these remarkable pieces this summer. Exhibition for this auction will be on view at Sotheby’s Hong Kong gallery from the 6th to the 11th of July.
Here focussing, how Cartier and Bulgari Transformed an Apex Predator and a Formidable Serpent into Timeless Icons! Inspired by exceptional pieces from Important Jewels this July, we delve into the storied history of two of the most enduring motifs in jewellery with Cartier and Bulgari.
Bulgari and Cartier, inspired by exceptional pieces from Important Jewels this July, we delve into the storied history of two of the most enduring motifs in jewellery.
The glinting emerald eyes of an apex predator. The sleek curves of a formidable reptile. Few brands have achieved the unmistakable recognition of Cartier’s panther and Bulgari’s serpent. A hallmark of heritage and craftsmanship, these iconic motifs encapsulate each brand’s unique essence, captivating the hearts of collectors and enthusiasts with their distinctive silhouettes, reborn year after year, collection after collection.
The panther has been a part of Cartier’s verbiage since the early 1900s, coming to fruition for the first time in 1914 by way of a Cartier timepiece dressed in diamond and ebony. That same year, a postcard was released with a panther curled around the legs of a fashionably dressed woman, signifying the start of a now-iconic emblem for the brand.
Jeanne Touissant had joined the brand a year prior, quickly becoming the director of Cartier Jewelry, and earning the moniker, La Panthère, a nickname bestowed upon her by none other than Louis Cartier himself. Touissant urged her team to shift towards more tangible, visceral interpretations of the panther.
Following its inception, the stately panther lay relatively dormant for 20 years, until, in 1948, the Duchess of Windsor was spotted wearing a glittering three dimensional Cartier Panthère. The first of its kind, but certainly not the last.
So how did it evolve into the enduring icon it is today? Toussaint’s fascination with the majestic creature led her to create exquisite panther-inspired jewellery, capturing the grace, strength, and allure of the panther in every unique piece. It quickly found its way back on the wrists of the upper echelon in a multitude of precious metals and jewels.
The Panthère bangle, emblazoned with iconic geometric rosettes, has been constantly reinvented throughout the years – the panther’s signature emerald eyes may also be accompanied by the likes of sapphires, diamonds and rubies in glittering feats of extravagance.
In Important Jewels this July, Sotheby’s presents two yellow gold panthers, including one double-headed bangle with emerald eyes and onyx rosettes, and a diamond and emerald encrusted sautoir. Other Cartier designs take the opposite approach, where the panther moves in stealth. Panthère de Cartier, originally introduced in 1984, earns its name from its bracelet.
The incredible fluidity of the design reflects the elegant, streamlined stride of the house’s iconic mascot.
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