"Surprisingly, due to very different historical reasons, the masters of Italian design have never taken jewellery into consideration. First of all, the functionalist heritage of the modern movement - let's not forget that Italian designers in the 1960s were mainly architects - which not only aimed at emphasizing function but also the social value of the design. And so an apparently useless item, although certainly linked to the aesthetics of luxury, as is jewellery, was, at least formally, of no interest to the masters of Italian design. In realty, these selfsame masters did design jewellery but only privately within their families as gifts for their wives, daughters or women."
"Surprisingly, due to very different historical reasons, the masters of Italian design have never taken jewellery into consideration. First of all, the functionalist heritage of the modern movement - let's not forget that Italian designers in the 1960s were mainly architects - which not only aimed at emphasizing function but also the social value of the design. And so an apparently useless item, although certainly linked to the aesthetics of luxury, as is jewellery, was, at least formally, of no interest to the masters of Italian design. In realty, these selfsame masters did design jewellery but only privately within their families as gifts for their wives, daughters or women."
"For this hall of the Museum, we decided to select jewellery designed by architects or planners who would normally work with an all-round perspective, and avoid the specialists, that is, jewellery designers. In other words, people who deal with all levels of design, even the architecture of the smallest object, and in this selection, jewellery is included."
Design is one of the most interesting expressions of contemporary society, due to its capacity to interweave different disciplines and create exchanges of knowledge. The result is a conception of jewellery where preciousness is no longer defined by the nobility of the materials used, but by their creativity and innovation. The selection is dedicated to Italian design and shows the link between Italian designers and jewellery, from the post-war period to the current day, together with their ability to transform outdated materials and to being new meanings to the jewellery world.
Massimiliano Adami
Self-production
Collection of structural jewellery elements, Molecole preziose, 2008
gold, silver, pearls, crystals
component of 3 cm
Collection of the author
Michele De Lucchi
for Cleto Munari
Ring, 1985
gold, hard stones
3 x 1.5 x 4 cm
Fede
Wedding ring, Vera Laica, 2000
silver
2 x 2.5 cm
Efrem Milia collection, Milan
Cleto Munari
18k yellow gold, enamel, onyx
Ø 4.2 cm, 3.4 cm
Collection of the author
Anello segnalibro
for De Vecchi
Bookmarker ring, Patch, 2004
silver
7 x 2 cm
Matteo Ragni Collection, Milan
Lella Valle Vignelli
Necklace, Seicento, 2003
silver
Ø 22 cm, h 2.5 cm
Anello, Collezione Limited, 1985
Ring, Collezione Limited, 1985
18k yellow gold, enamel, onyx
Ø 4.2 cm, 3.4 cm
Collection of the author
Anello, La seduzione, 2002
Ring, La seduzione, 2002
yellow gold, white gold
Ø 3 cm, 5,2 cm
Cleto Munari collection, Vicenza
Collana, Seicento, 2003
for Sanlorenzo
Necklace, Seicento, 2003
silver
Ø 22 cm, h 2.5 cm
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