Sale Description
Sale Description - Jewellery
It is a dive into the intimacy of an elegant into the heart of the golden age of Italian jewelry. More than forty jewels make up this setting of a woman of taste, in love with unique style of Italian jewelers. From Sculptural ornaments to floral or animal brooches, to pearls and diamonds, each piece in this collection tells a story of a bold, free and deeply refined era.
The 1960s and were a period of unprecedented creative bubbling in Italy, when jewelry was liberated from the frozen codes of the past to embrace the spirit of design, movement and modernity. Milan than becomes, the beating heart of this aesthetic revolution, with houses like Buccellati, Faraone or De Vecchi, which compete with inventiveness to give birth to jewels both sophisticated and living.
Combined over time with great sensitivity, these pieces show a taste of war, materials : yellow gold, platinum, diamonds, sapphires, rubies but also coral, turquoise, pearls etc… and for expressive forms, sometimes inspired by nature, sometimes almost architectural.
Many of these jewels are signed, others, anonymous, are no less remarkable for their aesthetic strength and the quality of their execution.
These jewels are not only magnificent ornaments : they are fragments of an era, precious witnesses of an inimitable style, typically Italian, that continued to inspire contemporary jewelry.
Each piece in now waiting to find a new hand, a new story to tell.
CESARE DE VECCHI
The Rarity of Cesare De Vecchi Jewelry at Auction - An Exceptional Collection
Jewelry by Cesare De Vecchi is seldom seen on the market, making each appearance at auction a notable event for collectors and connoisseurs of 20th-century design. As a Milanese master jeweler known for his bold, sculptural creations during the 1950s and 1960s, De Vecchi produced only limited quantities—often crafting unique or bespoke pieces for a discerning clientele.
His work embodies a distinct fusion of modernist aesthetics and traditional Italian craftsmanship. Characterized by textured gold and architectural compositions, De Vecchi’s jewelry stands out not only for its technical sophistication but also for its artistic vision. In an era defined by experimentation and elegance, he offered a uniquely refined interpretation of contemporary jewelry.
Because so few of his creations were made, pieces by Cesare De Vecchi rarely come to auction. When they do, they attract international interest, particularly from collectors of mid-century Italian design and vintage haute joaillerie.
Cesare De Vecchi: Italian Excellence in Mid- 20th Century Jewelry Design
Cesare De Vecchi was an esteemed Italian jeweler whose work exemplified the elegance and craftsmanship of mid-20th century Italian design. Founded in Milan, his eponymous brand became a symbol of post-war creativity and refinement, contributing to Italy’s emergence as a global leader in jewelry design during the 1950s and 1960s.
After World War II, Italy experienced a cultural and artistic renaissance. Cesare De Vecchi seized this moment, establishing a workshop that quickly gained recognition for its technical sophistication and artistic originality. De Vecchi’s designs from the 1950s and 1960s are particularly celebrated for their bold forms, intricate goldsmithing, and a strong architectural sensibility.
His pieces were known for their sculptural quality, showcasing techniques that played with light and form.
Jewels from Cesare De Vecchi were often one-of-a-kind or produced in very limited editions, making them highly sought-after among collectors today. The firm collaborated with some of the best artisans in Milan and contributed to the international reputation of Italian jewelry as both stylish and technically advanced.
By the 1960s, De Vecchi’s creations reflected a growing experimentation with geometric patterns and asymmetry, in line with contemporary trends in art and fashion. These pieces often blurred the line between fine jewelry and wearable art.
It was in these years that important commercial relationships were established that would lead to the success of De Vecchi pieces at important retail outlets of foreign cities. Some of these partnerships were with very well-known names, including Cartier, Seaman Schepps, David Webb, Stern, Bloomingdale and Spritzer & Fuhrman, amongst others. In particular between 1959 and 1961, Cartier New-York commissioned De Vecchi to produce a number of exclusive pieces, selected out of the sample book supplied to them.
Though Cesare De Vecchi may not be as widely known today as some of his contemporaries, his work remains a benchmark of quality and innovation in 20th-century Italian jewelry. His legacy lives on through his timeless designs, which continue to captivate collectors and connoisseurs of mid-century modern aesthetics.