The Art of Bulgari Gala
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Lavish sparklers adorned the ears, fingers, and décolletage of guests in an array of gowns who gathered at the de Young on Wednesday, September 18, for the gala opening of “The Art of Bulgari: La Dolce Vita & Beyond, 1950-1990.” Actress Kate Bosworth donned the Roman jewelry house’s diamond-studded Serpenti watch, bracelet and earrings, while Vanessa Getty draped a striking snake around her neck. These current-day pieces were inspired by the house’s Serpenti watch, on display in the show mounted in the museum galleries. In the series of darkened exhibition rooms, vitrines were filled with an array of baubles including coiled time-keeping bracelets from the 1960s -70s perched on delicate wire stands atop beds of sparkling white sand. Mirrors positioned just so reflected the intricate hinges of each ticker. “You can stretch out the serpents completely,” said jewelry historian and exhibition co-curator Amanda Triossi. “There is a white gold spring in each scale and the watch band always springs back into place.” She noted that watch movements came from Vacheron Constantin, and other storied crafters, and said they all still tick. “The challenge is to read the time.”
As String Theory Production—an L.A.-based collaborative ensemble—played instruments including a series of wires they strung across an elegant dinner tent that was decorated by Ben Bourgeois, Dede Wilsey quipped, “I told Nicola Bulgari, the jewelry looks like candy.” And indeed, guests viewed all of the jaw breakers in the exhibition before gathering for dinner. Bulgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin charted the journey of the gems from tectonic shifts to rough stones to museum-worthy works. “The art starts with the respect paid by stone cutters and jewelers to glorify what nature has given us,” he said. “Diamonds are an easy way to sell jewelry, but upstairs you see difficult stones. Artisans have figured out how to design around them. There are strong architectural statements.” And the designs are also easy on the eyes—even the pieces inspired by reptiles.
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