 | The sleek black panther, a symbol of elegance, bold courage, and the allure of danger, emerged on the art scene several years prior to its debut in high jewelry. La Panthère stalked onto the jewelry scene in 1919 with the involvement of Jeanne Toussaint at Cartier. |  Toussaint became the first woman to head the design team at a prestigious jewelry firm. |
 The “Panther” brooch, featuring a 152.35 ct cabochon sapphire, was the most famous piece in the Duchess of Windsor collection. |  | Her fascination with the big black cats of Africa is reported to have begun on the arm of her ‘discreet’ friend, Louis Cartier, who took her to Africa on a business trip. |  |
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