Museo del Gioiello Vicenza
Jewels of Power: Crowns
and Tiaras
In the Museo del Gioiello Vicenza, inside the Basilica Palladiana, the exhibition, Jewels of Power: Crowns and Tiaras, curated by Alessandra Possamai, is on show until March 17. The
exhibition provides a selection of
crowns and tiaras from different ages and contexts, from high jewelry to fashion: these
artifacts, symbols par excellence of political and economic power, have spelt
out the history of humanity and sanctioned the hierarchical division that
distinguishes society from the Paleolithic
Age to modern democracies, and leading fashion houses have brought them
back to the fore over the last 15 years.
Segio Cielo - for Miss Italia – 2004
crown
photograph and copyright by Manfredi Bellati
“The exhibition is an excursion among crowns and
tiaras of the past and present focusing attention on what they are and what
they have been. An authentic leap into the tastes and styles of different eras
through the works of great artists. A world of creative interest, a testing
ground for contemporary goldsmiths and designers. The jewelry items in this
exhibition are a sign of the gold art excellence, characterized by attention to
detail and quality workmanship, which made Italian craftsmanship great
throughout the world.”
Alessandra Possamai
curator
curator
Gioielleria Ballarino Cavour – 2010
Tiara
Crown – 1700
Guazza – 2010
Gerardo Sacco - for the theatrical adaption - I Promessi Sposi - Michele Guardi
Gerardo Sacco - for the theatrical adaption - I Promessi Sposi - Michele Guardi
“Over the last
fifteen years, the imaginative impertinence of fashion has
brought crowns, ultimate symbols of royalty, back to the fore. Fashion has
always absorbed and generated strong iconic values and crowns are powerful
inspirations due to their immediate and universal symbolism… Alessandra
Possamai has cleverly interwoven different times and contexts, displaying
crowns and tiaras from high jewelry to fashion, confirming and extending the Jewelry
Museum’s pluralistic and inclusive spirit.”
Alba Cappellieri
Director of
Museo del Gioiello
Gerardo Sacco – for Elizabeth
Taylor – Il Giovane Toscanini –
Franco
Zeffirelli – 1988
crown
Gerardo Sacco – for Monica
Bellucci – N(Io e Napoleone –
Paolo
Virzi – 2006
crowns
photograph and copyright by Manfredi Bellati
Paltimiro Fiorenza – 2002
tiara
Gerardo Sacco – for Alan
Bates – Hamlet – Franco Zeffirelli – 1990
crown
Sharra Pagano - 1980s-1990s
tiara
Photograph courtesy Museo del Gioiello Vicenza
Vita Alberta – 2018
tiara
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