The "Art of Bulgari: 130 Years of Italian Beauty" exhibition, which opened in September of this year, is soon coming to a close. This exhibition, which looks back on the history of the brand that inspired Andy Warhol to say, "For me, visiting a Bulgari store is like going to the best contemporary art exhibition," shares its appeal and highlights. While renowned as an Italian jeweler, Bulgari's roots date back to 19th-century Greece. Born the 11th child of a family of silversmiths, Sotirio Bulgari fled his homeland, which was in a state of instability due to civil war, and settled in Rome, Italy. The Bulgari story began in 1884, when the brand opened its first store on Via Sistina. The exotic elements found in Bulgari's signature collections, such as snakes and medallions, may be due in part to the background of Bulgari's founding.

Later, founder Sotirio's second son, Giorgio, studied French jewelry in Paris, and the brand also produced designs in a so-called French style. However, in the 1960s, the brand began to focus on designs that colorfully incorporated precious and semi-precious stones, such as emeralds, rubies, turquoise, and sapphires, the kind of stones we associate with Bulgari.

One of the highlights of this exhibition is the first public showing of 18 pieces from the collection. For example, the "Parentesi" line, which was inspired by the patterns of Roman paving stones, features necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. "Parentesi" debuted in the 1980s. Its continuous, graphic, and plump curves, combined with its architectural and voluminous design, make it an iconic piece, and its modular design combines exceptional practicality with outstanding finishes.

In addition, many pieces from the collection of Elizabeth Taylor, a Bulgari lover, are on display. Not only are these unique pieces designed exclusively for her, but they are also displayed alongside original costumes from films like "Cleopatra," providing a wonderful glimpse into Bulgari's history with silver-screen stars.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the Bulgari Bulgari Heritage Collection of watches is on display on the second floor of the central dome room at Hyokeikan, and the exhibition space is also a delight. Looking up at the dome ceiling, you'll see a projection mapping of a caledoscope of jewels, and looking down on the first floor, you'll see that the dome's circumference is framed by the iconic Bulgari Roma bezel.

In addition to the Heritage Collection, the "Diva" necklace, created specifically for this retrospective, is also on display. Lavishly crafted with jade, mother-of-pearl, and coral, it has a beautiful fan shape reminiscent of a traditional Japanese hairpin. The floral motif was inspired by old Japanese kimono fabric, and the museum is also showcasing many "Japanese Anthem" pieces created after the 1950s, which were heavily influenced by Eastern art.

This exhibition, which looks back on 130 years of Bulgari along with the jewelry itself and valuable materials such as sketches, will run until this weekend, November 29th. Why not take a journey through the history of the creation of Italy's greatest treasures?
【Event Information】
Exhibition "The Art of Bvlgari: 130 Years of Italian Beauty"
Venue: Tokyo National Museum, Hyokeikan
Address: 13-9 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Dates: September 8th - November 29th
Hours: 9:30am - 5:00pm
*Open until 6pm on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays and public holidays in September, and until 8pm on Fridays (except September 25th, October 9th, 16th and 23rd)
*Open until 10pm on October 2nd and 3rd, and until 8pm from October 31st to November 2nd. Last admission 30 minutes before closing
Closed: September 14th, 24th, 28th, October 5th, 13th, 19th, 26th, November 4th, 9th, 16th, 24th
Admission fee: 1,400 yen for adults (1,200 yen/1,100 yen), university and high school students 800 yen (600 yen/500 yen)
Free for junior high school students and younger
*Prices in parentheses are for advance tickets/group rates for 20 or more people
*Free for people with disabilities and one caregiver. Disability certificate must be presented upon entry.