Philosophy
A word about my philosophy
I trade in collectors’ items – objects, clocks and accessories – and jewelry by Cartier which correspond to a style from a historical period in the decorative arts of the 20th century. These periods are namely Belle Epoque or Edwardian, Art Deco, Modernist, and post-war. I concentrate in French-made objets, mostly signed by the creator such as Cartier or by the retail shop who sold the item. Attention is paid to makers’ marks in the case of retailers. The main creator apart from Cartier is Verger Frères. A workshop which manufactured many objects for all retailers is Strauss, Allard et Meyer. The Bako workshop manufactured many clocks. In the case of Cartier the number stamped on a piece indicates an entry into the inventory and thus a date of manufacture. In the case of Cartier I trade in pieces made in the USA as well as in the UK. Pieces needing restoration are restored perfectly by the best workmen of today. I also trade in Cartier’s Tank watches. As I scour the world’s auctions I also keep records of most items going up at auction.
I strive to build collections for clients and can assist them in this endeavor.
Signed pieces have greater value than unsigned items and are more sought after.
I deal mostly in Cartier pieces as the production of that firm was enormous, much greater than the other firms, and thus one finds in the market mostly pieces by Cartier. I do not deal in down-market pieces, only in mid- to up-market items. Items can be clocks, ladies handbags, smokers’ items, desk items, bar items, powder compacts and other items related to make-up or hair care, and all sorts of ‘objets de vertu’ like pillboxes, key chains etc….
The base materials used to manufacture these items are silver and gold. To decorate them, materials used are cloisonné and guilloché enamel, and/or hard stones like rock crystal, rose quartz, fluorite, jade, nephrite, onyx, agate, moss agate, lapis lazuli, as well as rarer hard stones like labradorite, pyrite, rhodonite, thulite, and materials like coral, mother-of-pearl, horn, ivory, tortoise-shell, and amber. Precious stones – emerald, diamonds, rubies, sapphires – and pearls are used in a minor way. In certain instances the items incorporate pieces of decorative arts from exotic cultures like 19th century Chinese laque burgauté scenes inlaid with mother-of-pearl or carved jade plaques and enamel plaques or other items made by the Indian or Chinese. The most sought after pieces incorporate marquetry panels by the 1920s artist Vladimir Makowsky.