[Sur]Naturel Cartier

An exquisite volume documenting Cartier’s most recent bespoke high jewelry collection, destined for eminent clients and collectors.

Devoted to the new high jewelry and precious objects collection by Cartier, this book celebrates nature’s vitality, sensuality, and aesthetic force. Documents from the House’s archives show that flora and fauna have been a major source of inspiration at Cartier since the very beginning. The representations are numerous, and the interpretations complementary, from figurative to stylized, all the way to abstraction.

The jeweler’s imagination and virtuosity transform precious materials and stones into splendid ensembles. For this groundbreaking new collection, the designers venture into and beyond the natural universe: in addition to the species that have become emblematic of Cartier’s art-such as panthers and crocodiles-they have imagined original creations inspired, for example, by succulents and peacocks, as well as fantastical creatures like reinvented chimeras. The collection is accompanied by text that highlights the privileged relationship between contemporary art and nature. Artists, fascinated by the power and the mystery of the environment that surrounds us, move beyond traditional art arenas to confront the immensity of landscapes or to work directly with materials from nature.

About the Authors

François Chaille is passionate about art history, fashion, jewelry and watchmaking; he has published fifteen works with Flammarion, including Magnitude, Coloratura, and The Cartier Collection: Timepieces.

Hélène Kelmachter is an art historian and exhibition curator. She worked with the Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain for more than fifteen years. She was cultural attaché at the French Embassy in Tokyo (2007?12) and in Buenos Aires (2014?18). She has curated numerous exhibitions in France, Japan, China, and Argentina devoted to contemporary art and artisanal craft.