art | cartier exhibition | art basel miami beach

lighting is the jewelry of a room

and, aquarium, a mobile commissioned by the fondation cartier pour l'art contemporain, designed by brazilian artist beatriz milhazes,
and crafted by cartier, was the jewel of art basel miami beach 2011.

the fondation cartier exhibited aquarium in the miami design district during art basel.

beatriz milhazes | aquarium | fondation cartier pour l'art contemporain | art basel miami beach 2011

photo by innerspace

cartier crafted the mobile from almost 15,000 carats of pearls, precious gems, and semi-precious stones, set in brass and gold vermeil.
the gems include over:

3200 carats of rubies

3200 carats of sapphires

1800 carats of turquoise

900 carats of coral

150 carats of emeralds

20 carats of diamonds

beatriz milhazes | aquarium | fondation cartier pour l'art contemporain | art basel miami beach 2011

photo by innerspace 

would you describe aquarium as jewelry?
or, sculpture?
or, decorative art?

artist beatriz milhazes

photo by art | basel | miami beach

fortunately, decorative lighting doesn't need to be crafted from precious materials to resemble...

diamonds...

dining room | donghia furniture showroom | new york NY
interior design by anita csordas

photo by architectural digest 

cascade grand luminaire | crystal and aluminum | designed by todd rugee | boyd lighting

photo by boyd lighting

 

diamants legers de cartier earrings | diamonds and white gold | cartier

photo by cartier

or, pearls...

dining room | november 2011 catalog | design within reach

photo by dwr

fun 11 pendant light | mother of pearl and steel | designed by verner panton | design within reach

photo by dwr

south sea pearl and diamond necklace | gump's

photo by gump's

rubies, 

sapphires, 

or emeralds...

dining room | private residence | southern california

architecture and interior design by newman mendro andrulaitus

 photo by california homes

 

cellula chandelier | swarovski (r) crystals and aluminum | designed by nunzia carbone and tiziano vudafieri | anthologie quartett

swarovski (r) crystals available in crystal, red, blue, or green

photos by http://www.anthologiequartett.de

ruby, diamond and 18k white gold line bracelet | asprey
sapphire, diamond and 18k white gold line bracelet | asprey
emerald, diamond and platinum line bracelet | asprey
photos by asprey

or, semi-precious stones.

dining room | september 2011 catalog | design within reach

photo by dwr

stamen pendant lights | amber, sapphire, or plum glass | designed by jeremy piles | niche modern

photos by dwr

m'ama non m'ama rings | semi-precious stones and rose gold | pomellato

photo by pomellato

you can never have too many jewels, don't you think?