Case — Cartier — ca. 1908

The case (for a brooch-pendant, M.12-2019) is of red leather with stamped gold decoration. The case leans back slightly so that it can act as a vertical display case standing on its foot. The interior of the doors, which open down the middle, is lined in silk printed with Cartier's name and addresses. The interior of the back of the case is lined in black velvet. The velvet lining lifts to reveal compartments now containing the two brooch fittings: the longer one for use when the jewel is a brooch-pendant, the shorter one when only the pendant is worn. The longer brooch fitting would originally have been screwed in place across the top of the chains, and from it the brooch-pendant would have hung in the case: the velvet lining has a stiff back and is formed to allow for the pin. Also in the compartments behind the velvet backing are a characteristic Cartier two-pronged screw-driver and two velvet ribbons with fittings enabling them to be attached to the tops of the diamond chains.