Contemporary Craftsmanship & Design at 2022’s Florence Jewellery Week

Florence Jewellery Week is offering a program of exhibitions, meetings and workshops free of charge in various locations throughout the city from April 28 to May 2. The event features jewellery in its various forms and applications, and will discuss artistic research, craftsmanship, new techniques and sustainability. The occasion, curated by Giò Carbone and Alice Rendon, gives jewellery designers and admirers the opportunity to meet and reflect on key themes connected to the world of jewellery creation.

Combining past and present, tradition and modernity, Florence Jewellery Week seeks to preserve the history of design and skills, while also keeping up-to-date with the demands of the modern era. The 2022 edition of the annual event is distinguished by its goal of identifying and promoting new frontiers in the subject of body decoration.

Special visits of the shop and workshop are offered by Ponte Vecchio’s premiere jeweller, Fratelli Piccini, on April 28, 29 and 30 by reservation (call 055 294768).  The firm’s creative director, Elisa Tozzi Piccini, will host a presentation of the firm’s latest collection, Bloom, in addition to jewellery of specific artistic interest on April 29 at 5 pm, followed by a toast.

The central event of Florence Jewellery Week is the main exhibition, PREZIOSA Contemporary Jewellery, at Palazzo Medici Riccardi’s Galleria delle Carrozze, Via Cavour 5; open daily 11 am – 7 pm until May 2, free admission. The exhibition features the work of 9 award-winning international artists. The 2022 theme of  ‘decoration’ is discussed using the artists’ work: the multi-dimensional approach hopes to showcase not only jewels, but also wearable sculptures capable of transforming their wearer.

Admirers and buyers will have the chance to communicate directly with the artisans at PREZIOSA Makers, which will take place in the Ancient Stables of Palazzo Corsini al Prato, Piazzale di Porta al Prato 37 until May 1; open daily 11 am – 7 pm; free admission. About 30 jewellery creators from around the world have been selected on the basis of innovation and the originality of their works, and invited to present their artefacts at the event.

The event will include an individual exhibition area, with 20 spaces in which the artisans will be present. Among the personal exhibitions are artists such as Benedetta Ciabattari of Lucca, who works with recycled leathers, and the MATUTA brand by Cristina Serafini Sauli, which draws inspiration from modern art. A collective space will showcase the work of 10 other artisans, such as the American Barbara Minor, who creates floral and abstract pieces using glass enameling. For more information, visit https://www.preziosa.org/preziosamakers.

Also part of Florence Jewellery Week, Preziosa Young, seeks to provide the general public with emerging and young artists and their visions for new jewellery collections. Like the central exhibition, the exhibition has invited up-and-coming artists in a highly selective manner. The winning artist will be judged in a blind decision. The entries for the exhibition will take place at Galleria di Palazzo Coveri, Lungarno Guicciardini 19.

One of the largest private collections of contemporary jewellery, on loan from Karl and Heidi Bollman of Austria, will be displayed at Palazzo del Pegaso.  Featuring 28 pieces, the exhibition can be found at the Palazzo’s Spazio Espositivo “Carlo Azeglio Ciampi” at Via de’ Pucci, 16.

A seminar that focuses on facial jewellery, known as Signs on the Face, is the project of Italian goldsmith Carla Riccoboni and curator Alice Rendon. Riccoboni’s seminar focuses on how ornamental forms work with new technologies and advancements in body jewellery. To view the online article and excerpts of the seminars, visit https://www.artiorafe.it/progetto-di-carla-riccoboni-e-coordinamento-di-alice-rendon/.

In addition to creative events, FJW will host lectures by experts in the jewellery industry. Taking place between April 30 and May 1 are speeches by artists, designers, researchers, and historians. Barbara Schmidt, Lauren Kalman, Paola Stroppiana and others will speak about the exhibitions and their themes at Foresteria Valdese di Firenze, Via dei Serragli, 49.  (sarah moats & gioia guarino)

For more information, visit https://www.preziosa.org/preziosa2022/.