Franco Cannilla (Italian, 1911–1985), designer, Mario Masenza (Italian, 1913–1985), maker, Janus Head Bracelet, circa 1949, gold, coral, diamonds, sapphires

Audio Description

This bracelet was designed around 1949 by Italian Franco Cannilla, who lived from 1911-1985. It was made in Mario Masenza’s workshop, an Italian, who lived from 1913-1985.

This bracelet is made up of multiple strands of coral beads that have been twisted around each other. The strands end in two sculpted yellow gold heads, both with eyes, nose, and mouth. The head on the left has small, faceted diamonds set in the eyes. The head on the right has sapphires set in its open eyes. The heads are connected at their crowns and they share hair that is made up of alternating bands of three faceted diamonds and sapphires. Each of these bands is separated by a raised band of yellow gold.

Label Copy

This bracelet was designed around 1949 by Italian Franco Cannilla, who lived from 1911-1985 and made in Italian Mario Masenza’s workshop, who lived from 1913-1985.

A native of Italy, it is little wonder that Franco Cannilla mined ancient mythology to design this bracelet, referencing the uniquely Roman god Janus. Without the usual Greek counterpart, Janus is often depicted with two conjoined heads. A god of transitions, his two faces look in opposite directions. Overseeing both the past and the future, he was believed to have jurisdiction over time itself. He governed all beginnings and endings—war and peace, birth and death. He presided over every arch and doorway and oversaw all traveling, trading, and shipping.

This bracelet is called a torsade with its twisted coral strands that link the two heads. They share rows of faceted diamonds and sapphires that serve as hair. This bracelet was probably included in Mario Masenza’s first exhibition of jewelry designed by invited sculptors and painters at the Galleria Il Milione in Milan in 1949.

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