The history of the iconic Italian jewelry brand, founded in 1884 by Sotirio Bulgari, is told by the most beautiful jewels from the Bulgari Heritage collection presented by the ‘Bulgari: The History, The Dream‘ exhibition that will be hosted until November 3rd at Castel Sant’Angelo and Palazzo Venezia in Rome. The exhibition was created by Edith Gabrielli, director of the Polo Museale del Lazio (museums of the Lazio region) – which include the to hosting prestigious sites -, in collaboration with Bulgari.
The curator, Chiara Ottaviano, a historian and sociologist specialised in mass communications, together with Francesco Benigno of the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa, Daniela Luigia Caglioti of the University of Naples Federico II, and Emanuela Scarpellini of the University of Milan, selected the jewels that illustrate the story of Bulgari as a symbol of Italian success. From small family-run business to a global giant of Made in Italy luxury, founded on tradition, excellence in manufacturing, and originality.
The jewels on the show, some of which are going on public display for the first time, come from the ‘Heritage Collection‘, but there are also extraordinary creations on loan from private collections including those belonging to and worn by actresses in the iconic ‘dolce vita’ period of the late 1950s and early 1960s such as Elisabeth Taylor, Gina Lollobrigida, Ingrid Bergman, Anna Magnani, and Audrey Hepburn.
The exhibition is further enriched with unpublished archival documents, period photographs and videos covering more than 100 years in the history of the brand, as well as with haute couture pieces from the private collection of Cecilia Matteucci Lavarini that illustrate the fashion trends of the different periods on display. The exhibition is accompanied by a catalog published by Rizzoli, which is sold in the two museum locations and in major bookshops worldwide.