Cartier

General of the Armies John Joseph Pershing GCB, affectionately known as "Black Jack," had perhaps the most distinguished career of any senior officer in the United States Army. Renowned for his leadership, he commanded the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) during World War I from 1917 to 1920, guiding them to victory. Pershing's influence extended far beyond his wartime achievements, as he served as a mentor to a generation of legendary future US generals, including the likes of George C. Marshall, Dwight D. Eisenhower, George S. Patton, and Douglas MacArthur, who later led the U.S. Army during World War II. His exceptional contributions led to his unprecedented promotion, becoming the sole individual in American history to attain the rank of General of the Armies during his lifetime, the highest echelon in the United States Army.

Pershing’s most significant posting came in 1917 when the US declared war on Germany on April 6th, 1917. A month later, US President Woodrow Wilson appointed Pershing as the Commander-in-Chief of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in Europe. Pershing arrived in Paris in March 1917, and on December 25th, 1917, he received this watch: a gold and enamel Cartier wristwatch engraved on the case back reads ‘To the C in C (Commander in Chief) from his old friend and Comrade, the G.P.A. December 25th 1917.’

It has often been repeated that Pershing was the recipient of the first-ever Cartier Tank watch from Louis Cartier himself in 1918, the first of the initial run of 6 made in platinum, but this has never been confirmed by either Cartier or the Pershing family. However, what we do know is that Pershing was in receipt of a Cartier watch in 1917: a stunning yellow gold and enamel watch on a gold bracelet with an enamel folding clasp. The watch combines Louis Cartier’s focus on design and function with continued exploration and development of case designs for both pocket and wristwatches. The square case was considered a revolutionary design in the early 20th century and was thought to be quite avant-garde. The first square watch was introduced 13 years earlier in 1904 by Louis Cartier for his friend, the Brazilian pilot Alberto Santos-Dumont, and Louis introduced the Cartier Tank Normale in 1919. Another aspect of Cartier’s love of design was the incorporation of geometric motifs in his pieces, such as the highly unusual Greek key pattern found on the lugs of the present lot. A similar lug design can be found on a piece in Jader Barracca, Giampiero Negretti, and Franco Nencini Le Temps de Cartier, p. 64.

The watch is consigned directly by the Pershing family.