Jewels of power: crowns and tiaras

A new exhibition at the Museo del Gioiello jewellery museum among crowns and tiaras of the past and present with a leap into time and fashion.

“The “Jewels of power: crowns and tiaras” exhibition is an excursus among crowns and tiaras of the past and present focusing attention on what they are and what they have been. An authentic leap into the tastes and styles of different eras through the works of great artists. A world of creative interest, a testing ground for contemporary goldsmiths and designers.”

The words of Alessandra Possamai, curator of the new exhibition to be staged at the Museo del Gioiello in Vicenza’s Basilica Palladiana from 22nd September 2018 to 17th March 2019.

On display, precious items, symbols of political, social, economic and emotional power and, at the same time, a sign of the excellence of gold art, “works that are present and still extremely current in jewellery production, true icons of style in the past and even now.” Besides important examples in the history of art and jewellery which retrace the value of tiaras and crowns through the centuries, a tiara made for soprano Ghena Dimitrova in Amilcare Ponchielli’s “La Gioconda” and a crown in silver-plated brass with rhinestone openwork on a cone-shaped base, will also be on display. Both creations are the work of the Sharra Pagano brand, founded in 1969 by Lino Raggio and Gianfranco Signori, who have made memorable tiaras for the most famous opera singers, thus creating an inseparable link between performance and gold art.

The exhibition therefore blends different times and contexts, presenting crowns and tiaras from high jewellery to fashion, confirming and enhancing the Museo del Gioiello’s pluralistic and inclusive spirit.
Crowns and tiaras have, in fact, spelt out the history of humanity and sanctioned the hierarchical division that distinguishes society, from the Palaeolithic Age to modern democracies. Moreover, "Jewels of power: crowns and tiaras” emphasizes the attention to detail and quality of work that have led Made in Italy to such greatness the world over.

The exhibition, staged in the prestigious museum area inside the Basilica Palladiana, will open on 22nd September during Vicenzaoro September. In particular, for VIOFF - Vicenzaoro Fuori Fiera, the jewellery museum will stay open until 10 pm and, for the price of just €5.00, visitors will be able to buy a special ticket that will give them access to several of the city’s museums during the evening of 22nd September.
These special tickets will go on sale on Saturday 21st, from 5 to 9.30 pm in the IAT tourist infopoints in the Basilica Palladiana, Piazza Matteotti and at the Museo Naturalistico Archeologico (Naturalist Archaeological Museum). The museums included in the special ticket are: Palazzo Chiericati, S. Corona Church, Naturalist Archaeological Museum, Palazzo Leoni Montanari, Palladio Museum, Diocesan Museum and the Jewellery Museum.