A ruby bracelet, circa 1955 Designed as an articulated series of interlocking polished and gaspipe links, punctuated by claw-set oval cabochon rubies, Cartier case, length 20.2cm By repute, from the collection of Mr Paul Vanson, thence by descent to present owner.  Paul Vanson worked for Cartier for a period of over thirty years, beginning in 1946. In 1953, he was tasked by the firm to transform the backroom with an entrance on to Albemarle Street into a 'boutique'. The idea behind the boutique was to attract a new type of clientele with more affordable pieces of jewellery and a range of leather goods and accessories.  Mr Vanson also served his community for over thirty-five years as a Labour Councillor for Elmbridge. When asked at various stages in his life how he could be a left-winger in politics and work in the world of jewellery, he maintained 'I considered myself a very good jeweller whereas I would have been a very poor miner or steel worker. Fate had decided what I should become. The raison d’etre of my work at Cartier was to create beautiful items to be sold for export most of the time, therefore bringing money into the national ‘kitty’ and giving work to hundreds of creative people. There was nothing anti-social in that.'