Cartier: A gold and silk handbag
1966-67
£2,268
Auction: 29 April 2025 from 14:00 BST
Description
The reeded 9 carat gold spine featuring two ropetwist loops, to a ribbed black silk exterior, several compartments to the interior and a coin purse, signed Cartier Ltd. London, maker's mark JC, London hallmark, handle detached, width 22.8cm
Accompanied by a Cartier case.
Footnote
Handbags have been made by Cartier since the start of the 20th century; at times of solid gold or heavily diamond-set, perhaps made of exotic brocades and or even just timelessly chic in classic black. When Louis Cartier asked Jeanne Toussaint to come to work for him in Rue de la Paix, she worked in the handbag department and was respected for her ingenious and economical use of expensive fabrics.
In the 1960s Cartier London, under the changing tastes of clients at the time, created a range of bags for the first time featuring detachable gold chain straps, these were frequently made in both 9 carat as well as 18 carat gold. The bags were available in three versions, all in black; one in leather, one in ribbed silk and another in plain black silk. More premium examples included exotic skins such as crocodile. Princess Margaret and Elizabeth Taylor were amongst the many wealthy fashionable owners of such bags.