A new, month-long exhibition by Bulgari celebrates the snake as a motif in art, jewellery and design.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10am-7pm
Entry: €11 full-price ticket for non-residents; €10 for residents
The serpent has been an integral part of Bulgari jewellery since the 1940s so it seems only appropriate that the coiled creature is honoured with an exhibition of its own. Curated by Bulgari heritage curator Lucia Boscaini and the Maison’s Brand Heritage department, the exhibition not only pays tribute to a motif that has inspired so many iconic jewellery designs, but also looks at how the snake has been interpreted in the worlds of art, photography and fashion.
Ancient jewels on loan from Pompeii and the archaeological museums of Taranto and Naples sit alongside paintings by artists such as Keith Haring and Niki de Saint Phalle, and photographs by Richard Avedon and Helmut Newton.
A selection of vintage clothing on display includes the costumes worn by Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra. It was during filming in 1962 that the actress established a long-running love affair not only with her co-star Richard Burton, but also with Bulgari.
The exhibition also includes a comprehensive selection of Serpenti creations from the Bulgari archives, which spans the early jewels made with the Maison’s signature Tubogas technique, as well as later, more realistic, snake designs.
Not to be missed
As part of SerpentiForm, Bulgari will also unveil two new high jewellery Serpenti necklaces, one of which is made from snakewood.
