Cesare De Vecchi (Italian, b. 1938), Bracelet, early 1970s, gold, coral, lapis lazuli, diamonds

Audio Description

Italian jewelry-maker Cesare De Vecchi, who was born in 1938, made this bracelet in the early 1970s. It is made of gold, coral, lapis lazuli and diamonds.

This yellow gold bracelet has a band that is made up of vertical, misshapen, textured pieces of gold. The front of the bracelet has a long piece of gold with lots of texture and random voids. It bends forward at the top and the bottom is irregularly shaped. On the right side, randomly placed columns of varying heights of salmon-colored coral and dark blue lapis lazuli stand up vertically. Six small, faceted diamonds are also randomly set on gold posts among the coral and lapis lazuli columns. A gap is left between the long central piece and the end of the bracelet band. Attached to the end of the band is a flower-like form with small, faceted diamonds set in the end of each petal that juts upward.

Label Copy

Italian jewelry-maker Cesare De Vecchi, who was born in 1938, made this bracelet in the early 1970s. It is made of gold, coral, lapis lazuli and diamonds.

Intending to take a completely different path, Cesare De Vecchi,  learned the jeweler’s art from his father as temporary employment, but he continued the practice upon finishing school. Partnering in the late 1950s and early ‘60s with Cartier, Bloomingdale’s, and others, De Vecchi sold and exhibited his work. But to reach international clients, he found he needed to create larger pieces, utilizing semi-precious stones—a sign of the times. Unafraid to experiment, De Vecchi designed jewelry that reflected his own modern taste and that of his clients.

With an eye that had studied nature at length, De Vecchi often incorporated diverse materials into his work. This asymmetrically shaped bracelet, that extends up the arm, is made of textured gold, perhaps mimicking the coarseness of tree bark. Forming columns set on end, colorful lapis lazuli and coral join a scattering of small, faceted diamonds, that add a bit of brilliance.

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