Florence is famous for its artisans and products such as leather bags and gold jewels and every day hundreds of tourists flock to Ponte Vecchio to admire its jewellery shops.
I love jewellery, but I tend to prefer chunky plastic pieces to gold. This is why I admire the work of Italian jewellery designer Angela Caputi.
In 1975 Caputi launched her company, "Giuggiù", opening a jewellery workshop and then a few shops.
The Florence-based designer is well known among jewellery fans for her pieces prevalently made using plastic and synthetic materials.
Caputi likes playing with such materials reinventing them, using traditional techniques to make modern jewels, experimenting with different shapes and colour combinations.
Her pieces have been showcased in exhibitions all over the world, but her jewellery also appeared in many films (so this is another designer lovers of the fashion and cinema connection may want to explore…).
Believe it or not, her jewels appeared even in the Dynasty TV series and in the latest Marco Risi film, Fortàpasc, about journalist Giancarlo Siani killed in 1985 by the camorra.
The pictures in this post feature Caputi's latest collection that includes necklaces, brooches, long earrings and bags inspired by China.
Mythical Chinese dragons – symbols of energy, knowledge, good fortune, success and prosperity – characterise the entire collection.
As you can see the pieces echo the style of Chinese jade-carved accessories.
I particularly like the black necklace with white dragons in the last pic featured in this post.
I wonder if the dragons in this necklace have any connection with the colour-coded dragon classification offered by Emperor Huizong of Song according to which the white dragons should be spirits of virtuous and pure kings.
I find also interesting the shape of the brooches available in different colours, as it makes me think about the reverse side of Chinese bronze mirrors decorated with dragons.
My favourite dragons out of the nine Chinese dragons are Pi-hsi, who liked reading (that's why he was often carved onto stone tablets) and is considered as a provider of knowledge and luck, and Pa-hsia, provider of strength and support in times of need. I wonder if Caputi's new collection features accessories with specific dragons. You will be able to find it out at Caputi’s shops in Florence (Via S. Spirito 58/r) and Milan (Via Madonnina 11).
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