Rome (Italy) – On December 9, 2010, the Grand Palais in Paris hosted the opening of a retrospective exhibition devoted to Bulgari, the Roman jewelry house that celebrated its 125th anniversary last year.

Entitled "125 Years of Italian Magnificence," the exhibition - with 600 masterpieces of jewelry, watch and clock making, and the decorative arts on display - retraces the main chapters in Bulgari's history and the evolution of the esthetic that has made the brand a driving force of the "Italian school," from the opening of the first shop on Via Sistina in 1884 through the modern day.

Certain pieces come from the collection of the Bulgari Museum, an exceptional trove of historic treasures conserved in the company's archives, while others are from private collections. In addition to jewelry and watch designs, the retrospective also showcases a collection of documents, many on public display for the first time, including sketches and drawings from various periods as well as a selection of photos of the artists, aristocrats and celebrities who have worn the house's jewelry since its founding; spectacular creations worn by Anna Magnani, Monica Vitti, Claudia Cardinale, Sophia Loren, Romy Schneider, Ingrid Bergman and Gina Lollobrigida, as well as Empress Soraya of Persia.

A whole room is exclusively devoted to the fabulous private collection of legendary Elizabeth Taylor, never before seen in France. The stormy relationship between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton was punctuated by a series of gifts from Bulgari, as reflected in many quotes by Burton on his then-wife: "The only word she knows in Italian is 'Bulgari'," "I introduced Liz to beer and she introduced me to Bulgari."

One example is the diamond brooch with a central emerald of more than 18 carats offered by Burton to Taylor as an engagement gift in 1962. In addition to her jewels, the display also includes the David di Donatello trophy awarded to Miss Taylor in 1959 for her work in the film "Suddenly, Last Summer," directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz.

Visitors will also be able to admire three pieces owned by the Grimaldi family, including a necklace that belonged to Princess Grace of Monaco.

"125 Years of Italian Magnificence" will be open to the public from December 10 through January 12, 2011.   

 

 






^S