Now You Can Own a Piece of French Classicist Furniture from a Cartier Boutique

Photo credit: Ullstein Bild - Getty Images
Photo credit: Ullstein Bild - Getty Images

On March 3, Artcurial, the Paris-based auction house, will be hosting a sale of furniture and decor that have decorated Cartier boutiques around the world. The pieces, which are stunning examples of 18th-century French classicism, adhere to the style that was dictated for decorating the maison's boutiques by Louis Cartier (one of the three famed Cartier brothers who catapulted the brand to become the global phenomenon that it is today) and Jeanne Toussiant, the brand's creative director during the 1930s.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Artcurial
Photo credit: Courtesy of Artcurial

The sale, which will encompass 240 lots of furniture, mirrors, and lighting, among other things, will benefit the Cartier Philanthropy, a foundation created in 2012 to improve the living conditions of vulnerable women and children, and will feature an online portion that will run from March 1 through 8. The lots paint a clear picture of Louis Cartier's penchant for neoclassical furnishings, as he was directly involved in the decoration of the Cartier houses. His classical taste in interiors can be seen in his jewelry designs as well, while Jeanne Toussaint (the inspiration and driver behind classic Cartier Panthère jewelry) took a more bold and brash approach to design.

"This furniture reflects a part of Cartier’s identity: clear lines, a sense of proportion, harmony of shapes," says Pierre Rainero, the image, style, and heritage director of Cartier. "The French 18th century and classicism inspired both Louis Cartier and Jeanne Toussaint to create the idioms of Cartier."

Photo credit: Courtesy of Artcurial
Photo credit: Courtesy of Artcurial

Some of the furnishings from the boutiques that will be up for auction include Louis XV– and XVI–style bureaux plats, a carved Louis XVI giltwood console that is attributed to Georges Jacob, and a small Louis XVI sofa marked Pluvinet, also in carved and gilded wood, that came from one of the Rue de la Paix boutique lounges. Included in the sale are also 20th-century lamps from the likes of Maison Charles and Julien Barrault.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Artcurial
Photo credit: Courtesy of Artcurial

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