Cartier Art Deco brooch, carved rock crystal with a fancy platinum mount set with two European and cushion cut diamonds (approx. 3 carats TW) further set with two European and cushion cut diamonds (approx. 1 carat TW) with diamond pave work filling out the surrounding floral motif, original leather box, signed and numbered, c. 1925
Lord Nathan (1889-1963), Harry Louis Nathan, 1stBaron Nathan, was born in London in 1889 and was the son of Michael Henry Nathan, a fine art publisher and J.P. (Justice of Peace) He was educated at St. Paul’s School and became honorary secretary of the Brady Working Lads’ Club, the oldest and largest of the London Jewish Lads’ Clubs (J.L.G.B). Nathan served in World War I, leaving with the rank of Major. He was first elected in 1929 as M.P. (Member of Parliament) for Bethnal Green North East and was re-elected in 1931. Along with many other Anglo-Jewish communal leaders, Nathan was a founding member of the Central British Fund for German Jewry (now World Jewish Relief Fund). He was created a hereditary peer as Baron Nathan of Churt in the County of Surrey on June 28th, 1940. He continued in active politics from the House of Lords, serving as Under-Secretary of State for War (1945-1946) and Minister for Civil Aviation (October 4, 1946-May 31st, 1948). He was made a Privy Counsellor in 1946. This lapel brooch was commissioned by Lord Nathan from Cartier London in 1945/46 and descended in his family.