Rectangular beauty compact in black made out of solid enamel, onyx structure and decorated with various stones. It has a smooth finish with rounded edges. It is larger than the usual circular beauty compact and is more in the size of a small clutch accessory. The sides are outlined with strips of diamonds with an arrangement of sapphires and emeralds incorporated in the strips. The side corners are accentuated with small pointed amethyst pieces. On the right side is the clasp enclosure in the form of a diamond strip. In the middle is a formation of foliage made out of an arrangement of stones. At the center is a flower with leaves on a vase - vase in amethyst, leaves in carved emeralds, and the flower in carved sapphire. All in position with pierced golden pieces. In between the leaves are circular diamonds and amethysts. Below this are small flowers, shaped like tulips, with diamond centers. Three out of the four have blossomed. Small circular diamonds are arranged in the background with one larger piece on the upper right. It seems like a rendition of a night sky with the small diamonds as stars and the bigger piece as the moon.

There is one other image of this object. See our image rights statement.

See more objects with the tag Persian, luxury, foliage, nature, compact, portable, women's accessories.

Object Timeline

	We acquired this object.
1920	Work on this object began.
1930	Work on this object ended.
2016	We photographed this object. We photographed this object.
2017	We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

Compact

This is a Compact.

This object is not part of the Cooper Hewitt's permanent collection. It was able to spend time at the museum on loan from Anonymous as part of The Jazz Age: American Style in the 1920s.

It is dated ca. 1925. Its medium is enamel, onyx, carved emeralds, sapphires, amethysts, rubies, diamonds, gold.

Emeralds, usually carved in India, take on new life as tree foliage in motifs based on Persian manuscripts in this Cartier compact of about 1925.

It is credited Private Collection.

Compact
enamel, diamonds, mother-of-pearl, onyx, gold and platinum.
Lent by Vartanian & Sons.
88.2016.5

Necklace of two rows of carved rubies set in platinum, graduated as they near the front. A square diamond separates each double row. The rubies are of different shapes - four-sided, heart-shaped, oval - and each is engraved with leaf carvings. There are two large diamond buckles - one each at shoulder-bone level - and a clasp at the back of the necklace also set in diamonds.

Object ID #907214241
platinum, carved rubies, diamonds.
The Adrien Labi Collection.
3.2017.1

A rectangular compact, all sides are close to being equal, with rounded corners and edges positioned in a horizontal orientation covered in shiny black enamel. Round and baguette cuts of diamonds embellish a singular and centered front opening and back hinge in a parallel geometric design of three baguette stones horizontally placed with space in between and several rows of round cut diamonds, horizontally placed below and attached to the three baguettes above. Most of the design is located on the lid curving around the back and front edges to meet the single row of round cut stones resting on the lower segment of the compact. A gold border is visible where the lid meets the bottom segment. The object could easily fit into the palm of your hand. The photograph captures the compact at an angle where the top lid, front and right sides are visible as is a reflection against a white ground.

Compact, ca. 1929
black enamel, round and baguette diamonds, yellow gold, platinum, onyx,....
Lent by Private Collection.
13.2016.3

Our curators have highlighted 3 objects that are related to this one.

Compact, Bonsai Tree

Compact, Bonsai Tree
carved jadeite, cabochon sapphires, enamel, rose-cut diamonds, gold.
Lent by Private Collection.
13.2016.37

Object ID #1042155107

Object ID #1042155107
14-karat gold, platinum, enamel, baguette-cut diamond (push-piece).
Lent by Cartier Collection, Inv. VC 75 A30.
86.2016.7

The top of this black compact shows the scene of a diamond panther with onyx spots. He stands between two trees whose trunks are made of baguettes and whose foliage is of carved emerald. The panther stands on five diamond baguettes with a clasp which is topped by a single diamond baguette. There are two thin gold strips that surround the top and bottom of the compact.

Compact, Panther, ca. 1928
black enamel, black onyx, carved emerald, baguette and other diamonds,....
Lent by Private Collection.
13.2016.67

Its dimensions are

L x W: 8.9 × 3.2 cm (3 1/2 × 1 1/4 in.)

It has the following markings

Cartier Paris, Londres, New York; 040.3

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition The Jazz Age: American Style in the 1920s.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2oahgK/
Accession Number 41.2016.19
Object ID 907130425