CULTURE

Be Dazzled

The Denver Art Museum celebrates Cartier’s sparkling legacy.


1951 platinum, diamond, and ruby necklace

Innovative from the start, brothers Louis, Pierre, and Jacques Cartier entered the jewelry business in the mid-1800s and not only pioneered the use of platinum but also were among the first jewelers to incorporate geometric shapes in their designs, presaging Art Deco. “Brilliant: Cartier in the 20th Century” (November 16 through March 15, 2015), at the Denver Art Museum, celebrates the house’s ability “to look ahead and proactively adapt,” says curator Margaret Young-Sánchez. A 1907 platinum and diamond laurel-leaf tiara worn by Princess Marie Bonaparte, and a 1951 platinum, diamond, and ruby necklace once spotted on Elizabeth Taylor, are proof that all that glitters is not necessarily gold.