A few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to take in an exhibition at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, "Bulgari: 130 Years of Masterpieces." It was a fabulous way to spend a Saturday.
The exhibition, which showcased the evolution of the Bulgari style and its social and cultural influence, included 150 pieces of jewelry from the 19th century through the present time. The displays of the exquitsite items also included photographs of many celebrities wearing the jewels, along with other archival materials.
Over the years, Bulgari has been influential in the world of jewelry design through innovative styling, such as that in their tremblant brooches which were very popular in the 1960s. These beautiful brooches were one of my favorite parts of the exhibition. The ornate pieces featured precious gems, mostly diamonds, which were mounted using a special technique which included tiny springs which suspended the stones and allowed them to move freely and flutter with the movement of their wearer. They were unbelievably lovely. The one below was given to Elizabeth Taylor by her then husband, Eddie Fisher.
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| Tremblant brooch in platinum with Yellow and Cognac-colored diamond, 1959 |
Of course, my absolute favorite piece in the exhibition, to which I kept going back for just one more look, was a stunning 118-karat (yes, 118!) emerald necklace. That alone was worth the price of admission. And if that were not enough, there were also matching earrings.
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| Necklace and earrings, 1961; Platinum with emeralds and diamonds Bulgari photos via Houston Chronicle |
The exhibition ends Sunday. If you have the opportunity to attend, I promise you will not be disappointed. Can you imagine wearing that necklace above? I feel sure it literally would be a pain in the neck to wear, but I'd love to attempt it. How about you? I would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below or via the link above. Until next time…
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