A ceremonial sword, along with a jacket embroidered with green-and-gold olive leaves, is part of the uniform worn by members not just of the Académie Française, but also by those of all the “academies” making up the Institut de France. The sword, its hilt traditionally decorated with symbols evoking the life and work of the new academician, is paid by friends and admirers (or by a committee from the member’s home town), and presented during a private ceremony.
Between 1931 and 1999 Cartier received many orders for these magnificent objects. Not only did that bring Cartier into contact with famous scholars and artists, but also with the history of the Académie Française, one of the most prestigious institutions in the Western world.
Below is a chronological list of the swords made by Cartier for members of the following academies: Académie Française, Académie des Sciences, Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques, and Académie des Beaux-Arts.
1931
Armand de Gramont, duc de Gramont (1879–1962) – Industrialist, scientist
Elected to the Académie des Sciences on February 9, 1931.
1934
François Mauriac (1885-1970) – Writer
Elected to the Académie Française on June 1, 1933.
1936
Georges Duhamel (1884-1966) – Physician, writer, poet
Elected to the Académie Française on November 21, 1935.
1938
Jacques de Lacretelle (1888-1985) – Writer
Elected to the Académie Française on November 12, 1936.
James Hazen Hyde (1876-1959) – American businessman and philanthropist
Elected to the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques as foreign associate member on March 12, 1938.
1939
André Maurois (1885-1967) – Writer
Elected to the Académie Française on June 23, 1938.
1945
Louis-Pasteur Vallery-Radot (1886-1970) – Physician, politician
Elected to the Académie Française on October 12, 1944.
1946
Jules Romains (1885-1972) – Writer, philosopher, poet
Elected to the Académie Française on April 4, 1946.
1947
Henri Mondor (1885-1962) – Physician, surgeon, historian
Elected to the Académie Française on April 4, 1946.
Maurice Genevoix (1890-1980) – Writer, poet
Elected to the Académie Française on October 24, 1946.
1953
Julien Cain (1887-1974) – Historian
Elected to the Académie des Beaux-Arts in 1952.
1954
Duc de Lévis-Mirepoix (1884-1981) – Writer, historian
Elected to the Académie Française on January 29, 1953.
Alfred Pose (1899-1969) – Professor, banker
Elected to the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques on November 16, 1953.
1955
Jean Cocteau (1889-1963) – Poet, playwright, painter, filmmaker
Elected to the Académie Française on March 3, 1955.
1956
Daniel-Rops (1901-1965) – Writer, historian
Elected to the Académie Française on March 3, 1955.
1957
Wladimir d’Ormesson (1888-1973) – Writer, journalist, diplomat
Elected to the Académie Française on May 3, 1956.
1960
Jean Delay (1907-1987) – Psychiatrist, physician, writer
Elected to the Académie Française on June 4, 1959.
1963
Gaston Cordier (1902-1965) – Physician
Elected to the Académie des Sciences on November 26, 1962.
1964
Joseph Kessel (1898-1979) – Writer, journalist, screenplay writer
Elected to the Académie Française on November 22, 1962.
1965
Jacques Rueff (1896-1978) – Economist
Elected to the Académie Française on April 30, 1964.
1967
Pierre-Henri Simon (1903-1972) – Writer, historian
Elected to the Académie Française on November 10, 1966.
Maurice Druon (1918-2009) – Writer, politician
Elected to the Académie Française on December 8, 1966.
1971
Georges Izard (1903-1973) – Lawyer, politician, essayist
Elected to the Académie Française on February 11, 1971.
1975
Jean Hamburger (1909-1992) – Essayist, physician
Elected to the Académie des Sciences on February 4, 1974.
Later elected to the Académie Française on April 18, 1985.
1986
Louis Pauwels (1920-1997) – Journalist, writer
Elected to the Académie des Beaux-Arts in 1985.
Jean-François Bach (1940-) – Physician, biologist
Elected to the Académie des Sciences on May 20, 1985.
1992
Jean-François Deniau (1928-2007) – Writer, diplomat, politician
Elected to the Académie Française on April 9, 1992.
1999
Pierre Messmer (1916-2007) – Politician
Elected to the Académie Française on March 25, 1999.