Jean Ghika
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Lot 86
CARTIER: ART DECO LAQUE BURGAUTÉ AND GEM-SET CASE, CIRCA 1925
7 December 2023, 11:00 GMT
London, New Bond StreetSold for £10,240 inc. premium
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CARTIER: ART DECO LAQUE BURGAUTÉ AND GEM-SET CASE, CIRCA 1925
The black lacquer exterior lid and base inlaid with iridescent mother-of-pearl and applied gold leaf, the lid accented by three rose-cut diamonds, the black enamel thumbpiece terminating with rose-cut diamonds and ruby cabochon finials, all four sides decorated with black enamel dragons, opening to reveal a tortoiseshell interior, mounted in gold, signed Cartier Paris Londres New York, numbered 02802, rubbed maker's mark, French assay mark, dimensions 8.0 x 5.7 x 1.6cm, fitted maker's case
Footnotes
Laque burgauté refers to the exquisite East Asian technique of decorating lacquer with intricate inlays of iridescent mother-of-pearl, often engraved and combined with gold and silver foil. The technique is believed to have originated in China as early as the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It remained popular during the Qing dynasty (1644-1911/12) and spread to the Ryukyu Islands between China and Japan and thence to Japan itself. In China the technique is called, 'lo tien' and in Japan, 'aogai'. The Western name is derived from the French - sea-ear or mussel (burgau) and lacquer (laque or lac). Most of the lacquer used by Cartier in their art deco objects is likely to have been made in Ryukyu or in Japan.
See exhibition catalogue "The Art of Cartier", Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, 24 October 2012 - 17 February 2013, ill.p.188, number 239 for a similar example.