Louis Cartier

Louis Joseph Cartier (/ˈkɑːrtieɪ/ KAR-tee-ay, French: [lwi ʒozɛf kaʁtje]; June 6, 1875 – July 23, 1942)^[1] was a French businessman, jeweler and heir to the Cartier jewelry house. From 1909, he and his brother Pierre were primarily based in New York City. In 1917, they acquired the Cartier Building, formerly owned by Morton Freeman Plant, which became the headquarters of Cartier in North America.^[2][3] He was a resident of San Sebastian, Spain.^[4][5] He was a member of the Cartier family.

Louis Cartier
Cartier around 1898
Born	Louis Joseph Cartier (1875-06-06)June 6, 1875 Paris, France
Died	July 23, 1942(1942-07-23) (aged 67) New York City, U.S.
Burial place	Cimetière des Gonards
Occupations	Businessman jeweler
Years active	1898-1942
Spouses	Andrée Caroline Marie Louise Worth ​ ​ (m. 1898; div. 1909)​ Jacqueline Almasy ​ (m. 1924)​
Children	6
Parents	Alfred Cartier Amélie Alice Griffeuille

Early life and education

Cartier was the eldest of four children born to Alfred and his wife Amélie Alice (née Griffeuille) Cartier. His grandfather Louis-François Cartier founded the house in 1847, and his father had been in the management of the company since 1874, and was primarily interested to expand the business internationally.^[6]

Louis Cartier was instrumental in expanding Cartier's design aesthetic by incorporating influences from Islamic art, which he admired during his extensive travels. His innovative use of geometric shapes, vibrant colors, and Eastern artistic elements became a defining feature of Cartier’s work in the early 20th century, reflecting a unique blend of Eastern and Western design traditions.^[7] Cartier’s collaboration with Charles Jacqueau, who drew on Islamic, Indian, Egyptian, Greek, and Chinese art, further enriched the brand’s style by adding diverse cultural motifs and global artistic influences.^[8]

Death

Louis Joseph Cartier died July 23, 1942, aged 67 in Manhattan, New York, U.S.^[9]

He was transported back to France and buried on Cimetière des Gonards in Versailles near Paris.

Literature

• Francesca Cartier Brickell; The Cartiers: The Untold Story of the Family Behind de Jewelry Empire; 2019