LONDON — The Victoria & Albert Museum in London is about to get a whole lot glitzier next year when Cartier stages its first U.K. exhibition.
“Cartier” will open on April 12 and close on Nov. 16, 2025.
The exhibition will feature more than 350 objects including jewelry, watches, clocks, drawings, imagery and other special objects.
Items will be lent to the exhibition by King Charles III, U.K. and international museums and private collectors.
Laurent Feniou and King Charles III at Cartier Queen’s Cup Polo.
Dave Benett/Getty Images for Cartier
“From showstopping jewels and ancient amulets to innovative architecture and product design to fashion fit for a queen, the V&A’s ambitious 2025 program across our family of sites will celebrate creativity, ingenuity and craftsmanship,” said Tristram Hunt, the V&A’s director.
The Cartier exhibition will focus on the maison’s art, design and craftsmanship legacy at the turn of the 20th century.
It’s understood that the exhibition will take place at the Sainsbury Gallery, taking over from the commercially successful show on Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel.
“Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto” was extended to March 10 instead of Feb. 25 of this year after selling out within three days of opening.
Kate Middleton wearing the Cartier Halo tiara on her wedding day.
Getty Images
Founded in 1847 by Louis-François Cartier, the house in the 19th century earned a reputation as one of Paris’ preeminent jewelers, furnishing baubles to aristocrats like Princess Mathilde of France and Empress Eugénie.
Despite this success, Cartier didn’t own a singular style at the time. In fact, if the house had closed before the beginning of the 20th century, history would probably have remembered its quality of craftsmanship and stones — but Cartier would have been grouped with any number of Paris’ leading names, which shared a similar style typified by garland necklaces and brooches.
When Louis-François’ grandson Louis Cartier joined the house in 1898, the company took a resolutely modern turn that propelled it into the new century while laying the creative bedrock that would make it one of the most widely emulated jewelers in the world.