Cartier & Aldo Cipullo: New York City in the 70s

New York, NY (April 2012) – This April, Cartier is pleased to present an exhibition titled Cartier & Aldo Cipullo, New York City in the 70s.

Curated and designed by Cartier in collaboration with Stefan Beckman, the exhibition will take place at the Cartier Mansion from April 13 through May 8. The exhibit will include approximately 40 jewels from the era as well as archival drawings, articles and scrapbooks. Videos and a touch screen wall where guests can interactively access various articles and images from the seventies will be part of the state-of-the-art display.

Cartier-New York in the 1970s

Two events in 1969 set the tone for the next decade at Cartier in New York. In October the first diamond to sell for more than $1 million, a 69.42-carat pear-shape went from Cartier to Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. The sale made headlines—“Liz Gets That Peachy Pear”—and reminded the world of the exceptional gems the House purveyed. That same year, Cartier presented the instantly iconic 1969 Love bracelet designed by Aldo Cipullo.

The exhibition illustrates the excellence and creativity Cartier demonstrated throughout the 1970s beginning with the Taylor-Burton Diamond and the Love bracelet. In the early 1970s Michael Thomas, the firm’s energetic president, campaigned to the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1970 to gain landmark status for the Cartier Fifth Avenue Mansion. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton entrusted Cartier with the special commission of a necklace for their historic 203.84-grain La Peregrina Pearl in 1972. It broke records as the most expensive item sold at the recent auction of Elizabeth Taylor’s jewels in New York City, and the original drawing of the necklace Cartier created will be on view in the exhibition. When Art Deco experienced a revival in the mid-seventies, Cartier staged two exhibitions at the Fifth Avenue flagship of its magnificent jewels and objects made during the Roaring Twenties. Cartier’s central role in the Jazz Age was underscored on screen when it bejeweled Mia Farrow and Lois Chiles for their roles in the 1974 remake of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic The Great Gatsby. Cartier, Aldo Cipullo and New York City in the 70s shares these moments of Cartier history in the making.

Aldo Cipullo

In the vibrant seventies atmosphere a charming blonde, blue-eyed Italian with movie-star good looks, Aldo Cipullo (1935-1984) conceived the Cartier Love bracelet while working as Cartier's in-house designer. The publicity surrounding his very first design for Cartier transformed Cipullo into a household name. From that moment there was eager anticipation for every one of his Cartier collections. It was in 1971 that the first nail bracelet was conceived by Cipullo; together with Cartier, they had the vision to introduce a bracelet inspired by the everyday object. His work was influenced by his philosophy of life and changing lifestyles – he designed for the moment while thinking of tomorrow.  Raw, daring and ahead of its time – the bracelet echoed the spirit of New York City. The designer’s range of themes reflected New York City life: modern love, the Women’s Movement, Pop Art, Minimalism, signs of the zodiac, backgammon and good luck charms. Cipullo’s instinctual talent for capturing the spirit of the times and dazzling dexterity of the jewelry arts at Cartier will be highlighted in the exhibition.

Cartier & Aldo Cipullo, New York City in the 70s

Cartier & Aldo Cipullo, New York City in the 70s will take place on the 2^nd floor of the Cartier Fifth Avenue Mansion from April 13 through May 8. Tours will take place daily Monday through Friday at 11:00 a.m.

Stefan Beckman has been creating sets for commercial advertising and editorial campaigns for over fifteen years. His ability to reinterpret the traditional style of a brand while remaining true to the soul of the company's vision is paramount to his popularity with his clients. His vast lexicon of historic and modern references allows him to transition between the iconic, surreal, bohemian, luxurious, or futuristic and integrate them seamlessly if necessary. In 2009, Beckman designed the exhibition, "Cartier: 100 years of Passion and Free Spirit in America." The exhibition took place at the Fifth Avenue and Beverly Hills boutiques showcasing one of a kind jewelry, time pieces, and iconic Cartier imagery in the American historical and cultural landscape.