Famous pieces from the Bvlgari collection are calling the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) home for the next four months, in the exquisite exhibition ‘Italian Jewels: Bvlgari Style’.
While the name Bvlgari is derived from the company’s Greek founder Sotirios Boulgaris, the brand is no doubt synonymous with 1960s Italian glamour. In fact, it was Welsh actor Richard Burton who said that in her nine months of filming Cleopatra in Rome, the only Italian word Elizabeth Taylor ever learnt was ‘Bvlgari’.
Organised by the NGV in collaboration with Bvlgari Heritage, the collection showcases the longstanding relationship between Buvgari, Rome and Hollywood cinema.
Now on display, included are the exquisite jewels from the personal collections of Taylor and Gina Lollobrigida and favoured by prestigious patrons such as Anita Ekberg and Grace Kelly. Along with pieces from the Bvlgari Heritage Collection worn on the red carpet by leading Hollywood starlets such as Kiera Knightley.
To complement the jewels, the exhibition also manages to bring together Bvlgari’s visionary creativity and the maison’s leading women in a spectacular display of film and photography.
For those interested in knowing more detail about the collection featured, the program includes talks and conversations by curators, designers, academics and other experts related to jewellery, style and design.
‘Italian Jewels: Bvlgari Style’ is on display at NGV from 30 September, 2016 until 29 January, 2017. The gallery is open daily from 10.00 am-5.00 pm. Entry is free. For more information, visit www.ngv.vic.gov.au/