THE JEWELLERY MUSEUM INAUGURATES THE NEW EXHIBITION “JEWEL – ITALY. MATERIAL TECHNIQUE ART. BETWEEN ANCIENT AND MODERN”

Vicenza, 27 November – Art and mastery, material and creativity merge into a single great narrative: that of Italian jewellery. The Museo del Gioiello in Vicenza tells this story through the new exhibition "Gioiello – Italia. Materia Tecnica Arte. Tra Antico e Moderno", conceived and curated by Paola Venturelli, a scholar of internationally recognised standing. The exhibition, which opens to the public tomorrow, 28 November, will remain on view until the end of 2027. Set inside the Basilica Palladiana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994, it marks the beginning of a new exhibition cycle for the Museum — the first in Italy and among the few in the world dedicated exclusively to the art of jewellery.

Of extraordinary importance for the quality and iconic allure of the works on display and for the prestigious collaborations with Museums and Foundations, the exhibition highlights the uniqueness of Italian jewellery in a continuous narrative unfolding across the Museum’s six rooms through eleven sections. A journey spanning more than two millennia of history — from the 5th century BC to the early 21st century — revealing how art, technique and material intertwine in timeless masterpieces. The more than 150 works on display, ranging from individual jewels to parures, as well as everyday objects such as handbags, vanity cases, precious containers, three paintings and two Apulian ceramics dating 330–310 BC, mark this path, both chronological and thematic. The materials — gold, coral, hardstones, glass, micromosaic, gems and unconventional materials — together with the crafting techniques reflect the expressive richness of Italian jewellery and its ability to merge craftsmanship, inventiveness and innovation. Technical and artistic perfection comes to life before the visitor’s eyes: the highly complex Etruscan granulation technique resurfaces in a mid-20th-century parure, inspiring innovative interpretations in a more recent creation.

Goldsmithing and the figurative arts

Throughout the exhibition route, visitors witness a constant dialogue between goldsmithing and the figurative arts: Pompeian wall paintings inspire coral masters; a brooch in lava stone draws on the colossal marble bust of Jupiter Serapis from the Vatican Museums (2nd–3rd century AD), while the plan of the famous Palladian villa La Rotonda, just outside Vicenza, is celebrated in a pendant. The shell cameos of an opulent parure reference the renowned carvings of Antonio Pichler and Antonio Berini, as well as a bloodstone cameo attributed to Valerio Belli, a celebrated Renaissance master from Vicenza, goldsmith and expert glyptic artist.

Two special sections

Enriching the exhibition are two special sections. The first is dedicated to Vicenza. Between Ancient and Modern, showcasing the most significant works for the goldsmithing history of the territory. Among these, three pieces of extraordinary value: a Lombard-era ring and cross pendant, a rare and precious gold votive crown with gems and cameos, and a gem-set collar with pendant donated in 1604 by the noble Vicentine family Caldogno.

Gioiello d’Artista – Gioiello d’Autore is the second special section. It explores the cross-pollination between contemporary art and jewellery, from Futurism to Kinetic Art, featuring leading figures from the Padua and Marche schools. Sketches, drawings and prototypes testify to the creative process that leads from the initial concept to the finished piece.

Emphasising the value of craftsmanship and innovation in goldsmithing, a small ground-floor section presents master models and moulds for bracelets, chains and pendants from the Angelo Tovo company of Creazzo, which closed in 2005 after around fifty years of activity, and specialised in producing dies and moulds for the local gold-manufacturing industry.

The new exhibition: vision and values

“The 2025–2027 biennial exhibition is the result of an extraordinary collaboration with museums and foundations across Italy, particularly with the museums of Vicenza, establishing a deep dialogue with the city and the territory. The exhibition path, structured in eleven chronological and thematic sections, aims to narrate the excellence of Italian jewellery. Around 150 works, from ancient history to contemporary creations, showcase the materials, techniques and craftsmanship that form a fundamental element of our material culture. We want to convey that jewellery is much more than an ornament: it is memory, narrative and a bridge between past, present and future.” — Paola Venturelli, curator of the Museo del Gioiello

“The Museo del Gioiello was created to enhance the goldsmithing excellence of the Vicenza production district, and with it one of the highest expressions of Made in Italy, uniting tradition and innovation, memory and contemporaneity. Through the works and techniques of the new exhibition, thanks to the collaborations with prestigious cultural institutions, museums and foundations launched with foresight by Paola Venturelli, we are able to represent the cultural and symbolic richness of jewellery. We want it to be a Museum accessible to all, open to dialogue with the territory and with designers, artisans, companies, scholars and enthusiasts of all ages, capable of engaging visitors also through a rich programme of workshops, school activities and themed events.” — Michela Amenduni, General Director of the Museo del Gioiello

“With this exhibition inaugurating a new exhibition cycle and celebrating the exceptional creativity of Italy and the goldsmithing art of Vicenza, the Museo del Gioiello represents an extraordinary added value for the Basilica Palladiana, on the eve of the Christmas festivities during which the Palladian monument — with the Olimpichetto exhibition and a new sound and light show — will become the heart of the city’s cultural initiatives.” — Ilaria Fantin, Councillor for Culture, Tourism and City Attractiveness, City of Vicenza

Paola Venturelli

An art historian specialising in the history of goldsmithing and jewellery, collecting and fashion, with a strong focus on the Italian context. From these perspectives, she has also approached Leonardo da Vinci in a completely new way. She has published monographs, conference papers in Italy and abroad, essays and articles in collected volumes and specialised journals, and has served on the Scientific Committee of prestigious exhibitions in Italy and internationally. She has organised and curated exhibitions, working on the set-up and study of major museum collections. Alongside these activities, she has taught at university level. She is a consultant for several museum institutions, including the Vatican Museums.

Senior Curator of the Fondazione Rubelli (Venice), she is the Scientific Director of the Fondazione Gianmaria Buccellati (Florence). Since 2024 she has been Curator of the Museo del Gioiello in Vicenza.

The scientific committee is composed of Caterina Ascione, Maria Concetta di Natale, Federica Giacobello, Roberta Piccinelli.

Participating Museums and Foundations

Museo Archeologico Nazionale ‘Massimo Pallottino’, Melfi. Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Taranto. Museo del Corallo Ascione, Naples. Museo Civico di Palazzo Chiericati, Vicenza. Museo Diocesano ‘Pietro G. Nonis’, Vicenza. Museo Naturalistico Archeologico, Vicenza. Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia ‘Leonardo da Vinci’, Milan. Museo del Risorgimento – Palazzo Moriggia, Milan. Museo Storico UnoAerre Industries, Arezzo. Museo e Fondazione Palazzo d’Arco, Mantua. Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Fabriano e Cupramontana. Fondazione Giacomo Manzù. Fondazione Gianmaria Buccellati.

The Museo del Gioiello in Vicenza

The first museum in Italy and among the few worldwide dedicated exclusively to the art of jewellery, the Museo del Gioiello in Vicenza is a permanent exhibition space located inside the Basilica Palladiana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the heart of the city’s historic centre. Inaugurated in 2014, it was established by Italian Exhibition Group S.p.A., and since 2025 has been managed by Vicenza Holding S.p.A., the company representing the City of Vicenza, the Province of Vicenza and the Vicenza Chamber of Commerce within the fair organisation behind the international jewellery show Vicenzaoro.

USEFUL INFORMATION

The Museo del Gioiello is located inside the Basilica Palladiana, Piazza dei Signori 44, Vicenza. It is part of the network of museum and monumental sites in the historic centre. It can be visited with the VICENZA GOLD CARD (valid for 12 days from purchase for 11 sites, €22 full price, €17 reduced, €26 Family) and VICENZA SILVER CARD (valid for 8 days from purchase for 4 selected sites among the 11 in the network, €16 full price, €14 reduced). In collaboration with the Consorzio Vicenza è — which already coordinates the city's tourist sites — operational management of the ticket office and bookshop is provided.

Admission €10 with reductions for residents, families, students and schools. For all concessions and free entries: www.museodelgioiello.it.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday 09:00–13:00 and 15:00–18:00; Saturday and Sunday 09:00–18:00.

For the event calendar and more information, please visit the Museum’s website and its social channels on Facebook and Instagram.