"Naturalia" by Buccellati.
Photo: Courtesy of Buccellati.
Discover Buccellati’s Most Collectible Silver Objects in Milan
On view for a limited time at Milan Design Week, the heritage jewelry house’s iconic Furry Animals lead a lush new exhibition of nature-themed curiosities
“Naturalia,” a special exhibition of decorative silver objects by Buccellati, is set to debut during Milan Design Week (April 8-13). Featuring 84 richly detailed animals, marine life, and botanicals, it’s the renowned Italian jewelry house’s celebration of its silversmiths’ extraordinary capabilities—and a beguiling tribute to the natural world.
Furry Animals, a menagerie of woodland-dwelling quadrupeds and raptors, promises to be a standout feature of the exhibition. A beloved series that Buccellati debuted in the 1960s, these expertly made objects strike an appealing balance between whimsy and realism with subtly glinting fur and feather textures expressed in the most delicate of silver filaments. Each is soldered one by one and gently brushed with aluminum to give the artistry of the metalwork even more dimension.
Silver Crouched Fox from the Furry Collection. Photo: Courtesy of Buccellati
Silver Owl from the Furry Collection. Photo: Courtesy of Buccellati
Some Furry Animals, like the ducks and pheasants, are life-size, while a curled-up fox is charmingly petite. Others, including a majestic stag, are about the size of a small house cat. “They’re all very realistic and beautiful,” Andrea Buccellati, the brand’s honorary chairman and creative director, tells Galerie. “The technique to execute them is very delicate and complex, just as engraving is.”
Most conversations about Buccellati tend to revolve around the prestige of its gold jewelry, especially when it comes to the caliber of the artistry and craftsmanship, but innovative silversmithing has been a cornerstone of the brand since the 1930s. Today, silver objects remain a core category, from horn-handled cutlery to beautifully ornate tabletop items and giftware.
Silver Bear from the Furry Collection. Photo: Courtesy of Buccellati
Silver Squirrel from the Furry Collection. Photo: Courtesy of Buccellati
Each Furry Animal is one-of-a-kind and uniquely compelling, says Mr. Buccellati, adding that he personally likes eagles and bears but could never choose a favorite. Attendees of “Naturalia” may face a similar conundrum (especially if they are looking to acquire one of the pieces—all of them are for sale). Balich Wonder Studio, a Milan-based entertainment group known for staging immersive multimedia projects, has transformed the city’s Piazza Tomasi di Lampedusa into three distinct realms: A mountain top, a dense forest, and sea caverns all play host to an array of gleaming creatures, some imposing, some impossibly dear.
Silver Pteroide Fish from the Marina Collection. Photo: Courtesy of Buccellati
Silver Tridacna Gigas Centerpiece from the Unica Collection. Photo: Courtesy of Buccellati
The environments also incorporate lush botanical elements and seaborne materials provided by Studio Mary Lennox, a Berlin-based floral design firm. Founder and Galerie Creative Mind Ruby Barber describes the exhibition’s forest landscape as “a space that allowed an opportunity to mirror the natural world,” she says. “We used moss and lichen foraged in the wild, as well as sourced beautiful delicate ferns and plants to integrate in the forest floor.” Her approach to the sea landscape, she says, was “more abstract, surreal and sculptural, using shells and specimens from the sea to create a unique layering of textures.”
Guests effectively embark on a sensory safari; as they meander through the different landscapes, they experience each Buccellati “inhabitant” in the context of its surroundings. The wonders of nature seamlessly commune with digital installations, soundtracks, and olfactory sensations, landing somewhere between dream and reality. What better way to explore “where the wild things are” in the heart one of the most stylish cities on the planet?
Cover: "Naturalia" by Buccellati.
Photo: Courtesy of Buccellati.
More from Galerie
