Jewels Fit for a Queen: The Goldsmiths and Engravers Of the Kingdom of Naples 1734/1860

Jewelers and media are invited to the jewelry exposition in New York titled: A jewel for the Queen in conjunction with the JA Show at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, from July 28th to August 2nd.

New York, NY (PRWEB) July 24, 2006 -- Inspired by the research conducted in the Historical Archive of Naples, which uncovered a vast repertory of documents regarding the fashion of the Royalty in the Kingdom of Naples, the administrative Council Office for Artisans in the province of Naples, sponsors this exquisite exhibition of jewelry brought back to life by contemporary goldsmiths and engravers of Naples and Torre del Greco.

sacred hands of the King

The official portraits of the Queens, that show them dressed in amazing gowns for "Gran Gala" (the Great Ball) made with precious textiles, and decorated with jewels that the historical inventory describes in detail, will be the leading theme that will allow us to rediscover the purity of the lines of the rococo' jewelry and the sophisticated making of the vesuvian cameos.

Thanks to the artistic talents of these goldsmiths and engravers, in addition to the archival study, it is now possible to maintain the traditional techniques and the high quality of the materials in the creation of new jewels, from the drawings and styles of rococo,' neoclassic, neogothic and neoroccocco' traditions, elaborated with a modern sensibility and under the faithful historical and artistic direction of Nicoletta D'Arbitrio.

This exhibition takes us through about two centuries of the History of the production of goldsmiths and engravers that created amazing jewelry for their Kings and Queens. The jewelry is extraordinary for its originality and the materials used.

Factories and Laboratories under the protection of Royalty would create incredibly ornate jewels that were then given as a gift from the Sovereign to his Queen. When the artisans were ready to donate their artifacts to the "sacred hands of the King," it was a custom that these gifts be accompanied by detailed descriptive notes given by the authors to certificate the characteristics, the design, the dimensions, the materials, the quality and dimensions of the stones and the techniques that were used. This information is a precious documentation of the exceptional talent of Naples goldsmiths during the Kingdom of the Bourbons (1734-1860) and during the years of the French domination in Naples (1806-1815).

Consulting the inventory of the Queens jewelry has brought to light the originality of the workmanship and materials. Especially the cameos engraved in coral and the range of lavic stones worked in the Regal manufacture of Torre del Greco (1805) and in the Regal factory of Coral held in the Hotel of the Poor in Naples (1815) under the direction of Paolo Bartolomeo Martin.

This first showing of the jewelry in exposition in New York is just a preview of a greater exposition of precious objects, now in production, that will be part of a wider exhibit of the goldsmiths art of Naples, which will be presented in November .

In addition to this historical elaboration, a wide array of jewelry chosen from the traditional production of the artisans, in order to give the visitors a wider panoramic view of the creativity and the technical capabilities of the contemporary goldsmiths and engravers from Naples and Torre del Greco:

4 Consortia: Antico Borgo orefici, Corallium, Oromare, Vulcano Prom. Art; "
Secorial associations: Assocoral, Federazione Orafi Campani and 4 artisan associations: Casartigioani, Claai, CNa Confartigianato

For further information regarding the exhibition please call:
The Italian Trade Commission Ph: 323/879-0950
fax: 310/203-8335

http://www.italtrade.com/>; www.italtrade.com
http://www.investinitaly.com/>; www.investinitaly.com

For the Press Conference that will be held on July 31st at 12, noon, at the Italian Government Tourist Board, in New York, please call: 212 245-5095

For trade opportunities please contact:

Italian American Network
Lisa Zaccaria
Tel 212-861 4263

###