FRAME WITH MINIATURE OF MARY STALEY POST

On view in: First Floor Library

About this object

The startling combination of the glistening black onyx, white diamonds, and bright turquoise in this frame owes much to the discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb in 1922, which triggered a world-wide craze for "egypteries." Cartier successfully grafted color and textural elements from the ancient Egyptian civilization onto his own polished version of the Art Deco style, as is evident in this frame.

The octagonal black onyx frame sits on a stepped base. A white gold frame is mounted with tiny diamonds and bits of turquoise. Egyptian-inspired stylized palms in turquoise decorate the four short sides of the octagon. The miniature is of Mrs. Mary Staley Post as an older woman. She is bust length with her hair upswept and is wearing a fancy dress trimmed with lace and a strand of pearls around her neck.

Object name:: FRAME WITH MINIATURE OF MARY STALEY POST
Made from:: Onyx -- gold -- turquoise -- diamonds
Made in:: New York, USA
Date made:: ca. 1930
Size:: 13.8 x 10 cm (5 7/16 x 3 15/16 in.)

Detailed information for this item

Catalog number:: 21.122.1
Class:: HARDSTONE
Signature marks:: MARK on back of frame: Cartier
Credit line:: Bequest of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 1973