Under Toussaint's guidance in the 1930s, Cartier began to move away from abstract Deco designs and into figurative work: lacquered ladybugs, exotic birds and her signature, the panther. One of her famous panther bracelets that once belonged to the Duchess of Windsor may fetch $2 million at Christie's NY today.
The glamorous Belperron was a celebrity designer in her day, her jewelry worn by Colette, Frank Sinatra, Diana Vreeland and the Duchess of Windsor. A glance through the Belperron pieces up for sale this week offer a nice overview of her distinctive and timeless style.
Picasso, Max Ernst, Georges Braque, Salvador Dali and Man Ray all designed jewelry, as did a surprising number of other 20th-century sculptors and painters. Much of it goes on display this week in Barcelona.
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