The chain between function and ornament
From 27th October 2017 to 25th March 2018
Organized by Alba Cappellieri
The exhibition pays tribute to the chain, a common element both in ancient and contemporary jewellery. A mechanical instrument of traction, the chain has been the inspiration of a whole array of jewellery and the expression of Italian manufacture and beauty.
On display is a selection of precious chains, part of the Veneto tradition and proof of a considerable artisan and industrial production in the Bassano del Grappa and Vicenza districts. The susceptibility of the panorama of Veneto jewellery-making towards chain manufacture is further confirmed by Vicenza's Aziende Riunite catalogue (Company Association) issued in the early 1900s, which includes a vast and varied selection of chains.
As well as classical and traditional examples of chain production, the exhibition also includes modern jewellery from leading Italian gold art companies and contemporary Italian designers.
An exhibition that shows how extraordinary jewellery, whose value lies in creativity, innovation and the value of tradition, can be generated from a simple functional element.
Partner
UNOAERRE
1950s
Bracelet
750 gold; plates welded by machine using the wheatear technique
AREZZO
SOPRANA COLLECTION
1960s
Bracelet
Gold; industrial weave, mesh band
VICENZA (?)
SOPRANA COLLECTION
1980s
“Carpet” bracelet
750 gold; hinged and engraved by hand
VICENZA, STAMP 738
SOPRANA COLLECTION
1950s
Bracelet
750 gold; hinged, mould and cutter
VICENZA
SOPRANA COLLECTION
1950s
Bracelet
750 gold; hinged, mould and cutter
VICENZA
SOPRANA COLLECTION
1950s
Bracelet
750 gold; hinged, mould and cutter
VICENZA
SOPRANA COLLECTION
1940s
Bracelet
750 gold; hinged, mould and cutter
VICENZA
SOPRANA COLLECTION
Late 1800s - early 1900s
Slip necklace
750 gold, enamels; woven chain
MARIA TERESA MIONI FOUNDATION
Late 1800s - early 1900s
Slip necklace
750 gold, enamels; woven chain
MARIA TERESA MIONI FOUNDATION
Late 1800s - early 1900s
Slip necklace
750 gold; double, flattened mouse tail chain
MARIA TERESA MIONI FOUNDATION
1800s
Korean necklace
750 gold and turquoise; cut chain with no welding
MARIA TERESA MIONI FOUNDATION
1800s
Bracelet
Two-coloured gold; hand-made central part
VICENZA
SOPRANA COLLECTION
1800s
Korean necklace
750 gold
MARIA TERESA MIONI FOUNDATION
1950s
Bracelet with fruit charms
750 gold, coral, tiger’s eye, aventurine
MARIA TERESA MIONI FOUNDATION
Late 1800s
Necklaces (copy from Renaissance drawing)
750 gold; individual elements cut by hand and then assembled
MARIA TERESA MIONI FOUNDATION
1950s
Bracelet
750 gold; mechanically made chain, cutter and hand-welded tube
MARIA TERESA MIONI FOUNDATION
1920s
Bracelets/Necklace
750 gold, synthetic stones; hollow tubes with welded appliqué
MARIA TERESA MIONI FOUNDATION
Early 1900s
Bracelet
Gold, enamel; mould
VICENZA
SOPRANA COLLECTION
GIAMPAOLO BABETTO
2017
Necklace
750 yellow gold
IVDESIGN, FRANCESCA BRAGA ROSA E LUDOVICO VIANELLO
Out of office, 2017
Necklace
Brass paper clips
MARCO BICEGO
Jaipur Link, 2011
Necklace
18 kt yellow gold; hand-engraved gold
FOPE
Flex’It Eka, 2017
Elastic bracelet
18 kt gold, white gold, diamond pavé
FOPE
Diva, 1986
Rigid bracelet
18 kt yellow gold
CARLA RICCOBONI
Alpha 11-14, ALPHABET Collection, 1994
Necklace
750 yellow gold; chain made of cut modules hooked together without welding
FRANCO PIANEGONDA
Liquid Emotion, 2013/2014
Necklace
Silver
EMMA FRANCESCONI
Trifora, 2015
Necklace
Titanium
STEFANIA LUCCHETTA
Per Aspera 50, 2012
Necklace (one piece)
Stellite, 18kt gold-plated bronze; mixed technique
STEFANO MARCHETTI
1999
Necklace
Niellated silver
MATTIOLI
Bikini, Puzzle collection, 2014
Necklace
Pink gold, mother-of-pearl
MATTIOLI
Chanel, Puzzle Collection, 2013
Necklace
Pink gold, mother-of-pearl
OFFICINA ANGELO TOVO
TAV. 1029, 1960/70 ca.
Examples of “pivoted” chain assembly
NADIR STRINGA COLLECTION
OFFICINA ANGELO TOVO
TAV. 326, 1970/80 ca.
“Pivoted” chain models
Brass
NADIR STRINGA COLLECTION
OFFICINA ANGELO TOVO
TAV. T-3, 1960/80 ca.
“Korean” chain models
Brass
NADIR STRINGA COLLECTION
OFFICINA ANGELO TOVO
TAV. 223, 1960/70 ca.
“Hooked, fabric effect” chain models
Brass
NADIR STRINGA COLLECTION
OFFICINA ANGELO TOVO
TAV. 139, 1950/70 ca.
“Hooked” chain models
Brass
NADIR STRINGA COLLECTION
OFFICINA ANGELO TOVO
TAV. 27, 1960/70 ca.
Samples for flexible “woven” bracelets and necklaces
Brass
NADIR STRINGA COLLECTION
OFFICINA ANGELO TOVO
TAV. K3, 1960/70 ca.
Samples of “hooked” fabric bracelets
NANIS
Trasformista, 1998
Bracelet
18kt gold, diamonds
PESAVENTO
Polvere di Sogni, 2017
Necklace
925 silver, pink powder, black powder
PESAVENTO
Polvere di Sogni, 2017
Necklace
925 silver, pink powder, black powder
PESAVENTO
Polvere di Sogni, 2017
Necklace
925 silver, pink powder, black powder
PESAVENTO
Polvere di Sogni, 2017
Necklace
925 silver, pink powder, bronze powder
POMELLATO
Iconica, 2017
Bracelet
Pink gold
POMELLATO
Tango, 2017
Sautoir necklace
Pink gold
POMELLATO
Victoria, 2017
Necklace
Matte pink gold, jet
CARLA RICCOBONI
Ellisse 22 curva, ALPHABET Collection, 1994
Necklace
800 silver, black galvanic colouring; chain made of cut modules hooked together without welding
CARLA RICCOBONI
Ellisse 18 piatta, ALPHABET Collection, 1994
Necklace
800 silver, grey galvanic colouring, 750 yellow gold; chain made of cut modules hooked together without welding
CARLA RICCOBONI
Phitos 17 corta, ALPHABET Collection, 1995
Necklace
750 yellow gold; chain made of cut modules hooked together without welding
CARLA RICCOBONI
Gamma S-catenata, ALPHABET Collection, 1991-2008
Necklace
800 silver coloured with hot dip epoxy paints; hot dip epoxy colour
CARLA RICCOBONI
Alpha Titanio, ALPHABET Collection, 2010
Necklace
Yellow, light blue, green oxidized titanium, green oxidized silver (clasp); laser-cut modules oxidized in various shades of green and hooked together without welding
CARLA RICCOBONI
Bisanzio gioiello tessile, VENEZIA Collection, 1990
Necklace
750 gold, 500 palladium; textile jewellery without clasps, rectangular in shaped and inspired by sacred hangings
PRIVATE COLLECTION
CARLA RICCOBONI
Venezia catena, VENEZIA Collection, 1990
Necklace
750 gold; prototype made of small disks linked by wires of various shape and length and larger disks, hand-fretted with patterns of Arabic-Byzantine origin
CARLA RICCOBONI
Rotolo gioiello tessile, ROTOLO Collection, 2011
Necklace
Black oxidized 925 silver; textile necklace made of small spirals in flattened and welded silver wire linked together by rings
ROBERTO COIN
Oro Classic, 2015
Bracelet
Pink gold
ROBERTO COIN
Collezione Retrò, 2015
Bracelet
White gold, diamonds
BARBARA UDERZO
Gilettina, 2004
Necklace
750 gold
BARBARA UDERZO
Riccio, 2005
Necklace, bracelet
925 silver; rhodium-plated
VENDORAFA LOMBARDI
Lace, 2016
Necklace
18kt yellow gold, amethyst, peridot, rhodolite, pink topaz, white diamonds
VENDORAFA LOMBARDI
Etnica, 2014
Necklace
18kt yellow gold, wood
UNOAERRE
Bismark, early 1950s
Bracelet
750 gold
UNOAERRE
Etrusca (fiocco in fiocco), Second half 1950s
Bracelet
750 gold
UNOAERRE
Gourmette, primi anni ‘60 - early 1960s
Bracelet
750 gold; chain with plastically deformed right and left mesh pairs
DANIELA VETTORI
Preziosi Legami, 1998
Necklace
750 gold; hand-made by fire and hammer
VHERNIER
Doppio Senso, 2009
Necklace
White gold, jet, diamonds
ALBERTA VITA
IN-QUADRATI, 2014
Necklace
925 silver
GIAMPAOLO BABETTO
2017
Necklace
750 yellow gold
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