tokujin yoshioka exhibition ‘memories of CARTIER creations’ opened

the historical CARTIER jewelry exhibition at the tokyo national museum will run until may 31th, 2009. on sunday, april 5th, 2009, from 13:30 – 15:00 in the auditorium of the heiseikan there will be a lecture by tokujin yoshioka and fumiko ito ‘exhibition direction and tokujin yoshioka’s design philosophy’.

the exhibition includes a total of 276 fine jewelry pieces which tokujin yoshioka, curator of the show created a stunning visual display, illustrating the memories associated with each piece. the exclusive jewelry pieces were custom made, in time also also revealing some historic facts. some memories are from famous people others from unknown people. the exhibition focuses particularly on 50 jewels, stories which have particularly stimulated tokujin yoshioka’s fantasy.

workshop at the exhibition

last room of the exhibition

last room of the exhibition

last room of the exhibition

‘water block’

last room of the exhibition

‘moon fragment’

‘moon fragment’

tokyo national museum

crocodile necklace by cartier photo by nick welsh collection CARTIER © CARTIER

crocodile necklace CARTIER paris, special order, 1975 gold, 1023 brilliant-cut fancy inense yellow diamonds, 60.02 carat in total. two-navette shaped emerald cabochons(eyes). 1060 emerald, 66.86 carat in total. two ruby cabochons(eyes). entirely articulated, the two crocodile can be worn separately as brooches or together as a necklace. when worn around the neck, the feet can be replaced by clawless paws that will not irritate the skin. sold to maría félix, a mexican TV star and one of CARTIER major clients..

necklace by CARTIER photo by nick welsh collection CARTIER© CARTIER

CARTIER paris, special order, restored in 1928 by cartier in 2001-2002 platinum and diamonds-set chain, cubic zirconium, white topaz, smoky quartz, synthetic ruby. central pendant originally seen with the de beers yellow diamond of 234.65 carat diamonds and 2930. sold to sir bhupindar singh, maharajah of patiala.

sir yadavindra singh, maharajah of patiala image © CARTIER archives

sir yadavindra singh, maharajah of patiala, wears the above illustrated diamond and platinum necklace parade created by CARTIER in 1928 for his father sir bhupindar singh.