Mastery of Design: The Cartier Owl, 1950-1960

Owl Brooch
Cartier, Paris
The Victoria & Albert Museum

In the middle of the Twentieth Century, Cartier produced a range of brooches in the form of birds. Some, such as jewels in the image of caged birds, had symbolic meaning (in that case, the Nazi occupation of Paris), but others, especially those of the 1950s and 1960s, were simply meant to be beautiful and frivolous—like this own. 

This brooch marked an introduction of less-formal jewelry for Cartier. Designed for daytime wear, the brooch was intended to be fun and light. The body of the owl is crafted of gold and white chalcedony. His eyes are set with turquoise. He was made between 1950 to 1960 in Paris.