TITLE OF THE JEWEL: The lovers
Materials : Silver, yellow gold and freshwater pearls
Techinque: wax modelling, micro-fusion and hand finish
Inspired by Virginia Oldoini, Countess of Castiglione
A Woman of the Risorgimento, she was sent to France by her cousin Cavour with the intent of using her graces to seduce and convince the Emperor Napoleo III to side his troops with those of the Savoy house for the cause of Itaian indipendence.
The attempt succeeded and the two became lovers.
Napoleon III showered her with jewels incuding a necklace of 5 rounds of pearls which she often wore. The jewel represents two lovers, he embraces her and in between the two bodies a shape in silver brings to mind the shape of a unified Italy, reason for which the two met.
The man and the woman are also joined by a thread of pearls which remembers one of te most famous gifts the Emperor gave to the Countess.
