The story of the Greek-born ‘Roman’ jeweler of the empire he built deeply intertwines with that of Italy as the cradle of art and elegance. This is the dreamlike story told by the ‘Bvlgari. The Story, the Dream‘ that, due to the imposing wealth of exhibits, is currently on show across two different monumental venues in Rome: Palazzo Venezia and Castel Sant’Angelo. 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.
Until November 3, it is possible to view the emblematic jewels, some on show for the first time, from the Bvlgari Heritage Collection, curated by Lucia Boscaini, which capture the excellence in craftsmanship, the taste for color, the sumptuous shapes and rounded lines that are today hallmarks of the Bulgari style.
A large selection of Bulgari’s breathtaking creations from Post-World War II to 1990s is also accompanied by videos about individual pieces or their collectors_._ As an elegant counterpoint to the jewels, the haute couture dresses from Cecilia Matteucci Lavarini’s private collection give a vivid feeling of the tastes and trends have evolved in the years during which the Bulgari story has unfolded. Moreover, pieces formerly in the collection of Elizabeth Taylor, Gina Lollobrigida, Ingrid Bergman, Anna Magnani, and Audrey Hepburn illustrate the predilection of movie stars from the legendary Dolce Vita times. However, this is much more than an exhibition of amazing jewels, in fact, the story of the three generations of the Bulgari family that made great their brand is illustrated also through family photographs and short videos.
All the beauty of ‘Bvlgari. The Story, the Dream‘ can also be admired in the impressive 328-page catalog, published in Italian and in English editions by Rizzoli, with gorgeous photographs of Bulgari jewelry and of the European royalty and movie stars who owned or still do own pieces.
Ilona Catani Scarlett
Photos from the official website Bulgari.com