To kick off December, a glimpse behind the scenes of Christmas in Cartier London 106 years ago. This card was sent to clients in 1915, when a raging world war had forced many employees — and clients — to exchange tiaras for the trenches.
Jacques Cartier, the youngest Cartier brother who had established the 175 New Bond Street branch just six years earlier, was among those fighting for his country.
Rather than celebrating Christmas — and his wedding anniversary — with champagne (he had married my great-grandmother Nelly just three years earlier), he was leading his cavalry regiment, Les Dragons, into dangerous battle in France's Champagne region.
And yet, though far from family and firm, Jacques remained heavily involved in the management of 175 New Bond Street through letters. He felt a strong sense of duty to keep Cartier London going, believing that his dedicated, brave employees should have a business to return to once war was over.
Hence this card — a snapshot of social history that includes, of course, a respectful reference to the First World War. It shows the allies' flags on the front "with the respectful complements of Messrs Cartier" — but also reveals the family's steely determination and pragmatism, a refusal to give up even when confronted with a cataclysmic world war.
Inside it reads: "Messieurs Cartiers have the pleasure of announcing that in spite of present circumstances, they have been able to receive from their Paris branch a very large selection of Christmas presents." It would have been interesting to see which presents made it to the London showroom in 1915 — most likely smaller items of jewellery, a Belle Époque brooch and sapphire cufflinks perhaps, alongside cigarette cases and timepieces like this sweet pink guilloché enamel Cartier clock (inspired by the Cartier brothers' pre-war trips to Russia), with letters in place of numbers. In this clock the letters read 'BONS SOUHAITS', which translates as 'good wishes' — a rather apt message for this time of year.
