Jewellery, Objects of Vertu, Silver and Watches

Barbara Cartlidge

Born to Jewish parents in Berlin in 1922, Barbara (neé Feistmann) spent her early life under the threat of the Nazis in Germany. In 1938, after completing school at the age of 16, Barbara and her family fled the country, first seeking refuge in Copenhagen and three months later relocating to Hampstead, North London.

In 1944, Barbara met and married Derrick Cartlidge and moved into a house in South Hill Park Gardens, Hampstead, where she was to remain until her death.

Passionately interested in the arts and design, Barbara attended the Central School of Arts and Crafts (later St Martins) from 1957-60 where she studied jewellery. Upon completion of her course, she set up a studio at home and was soon taking jewellery commissions. Having registered her brand in 1959, her breakthrough came in 1960 with a solo exhibition at Heals’ in London, which attracted the attention of the fashion magazines Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.

In June 1971 Barbara and fellow jeweller Ralph Turner co-founded the Electrum Gallery at 21 South Molton Street, Mayfair, London, the first gallery dedicated to showcasing the work of contemporary, international jewellers and designers. The gallery quickly became one of the most prestigious and influential contemporary galleries in the world for established and emerging jewellery talent, over the years representing many hundreds of jewellers. The Electrum Gallery established London as an international platform for artist jewellery, until finally closing in 2007.

In 1973, she published her only book, Twentieth-Century Jewelry, and became a sought-after lecturer and teacher throughout the 1980s and1990s. In 1978, Barbara was appointed Freeman of the Goldsmiths’ Company and in 2016 Goldsmiths’ held a special exhibition of her work, taking place between 27 September - 9 October during the 2016 Goldsmiths’ Fair.

Barbara’s pieces are held in many public and private collections worldwide, including the Victoria & Albert Museum, London.

“Fairly often I make a piece of jewellery which I cannot sell because I am so attached to it – so my own personal collection increases all the time”. (Barbara Cartlidge).

Noonans are delighted to be offering a selection of Barbara’s own works, these personal jewels having passed by family descent to the current vendor.

Highlights include the impressive bicolour 18ct gold collar and amethyst crystal pendant, 1970, estimated to fetch £12,000-15,000 and a 9ct gold and citrine cuff bangle, 1966, estimated at £800-1200.

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