A fascinating show at Saatchi in London explores the iconic jeweler’s star-studded heritage.

In this magnificent exhibition by Tiffany & Co., visitors are taken on a journey through the company’s 185 years, from its founding in 1837 by Charles Lewis Tiffany. His vision, work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit enabled the house to achieve unrivaled success in New York City, which was burgeoning with new money and able to enjoy the ideal of luxury he both suggested and supplied.

The show is divided into seven chapters, each exploring a different theme of the house’s heritage, starting with creativity. The highlight of the first chapter is Jean Schlumberger’s legendary Bird on a Rock brooch. This example is set with a cushion-cut, blue Paraiba-type tourmaline of over 54 carats, perched on the top of which, with pink sapphire eyes, is the famous bird. There are several other significant jewels in this room, including the Montana Sapphire Renaissance Revival style necklace created in 1922 by the founder’s son, Louis Comfort Tiffany.

Vision & Virtuosity. Photo: Tiffany & Co.
Vision & Virtuosity. Photo: Tiffany & Co.

Engaging innovations
Chapters Two and Three cover the origins of the celebrated Tiffany blue box and the subsequent Blue Book, the first catalog of its kind from a luxury emporium. The catalog now lends its name to the annual haute couture jewelry collections, and several from the company’s archives are on display. These include a wonderful and whimsical Schlumberger Hedges and Flowers necklace set with diamonds, turquoise and rubellites, and a dragonfly brooch inspired by a 1904 masterpiece Louis Comfort Tiffany designed.

Chapter Four celebrates love and the introduction by Tiffany of what the company defined as the modern engagement ring. Prior to the innovative six-prong setting, the diamond was bezel set or sat low in the band, but from 1886 the diamonds appeared to float above the finger with light radiating all around.

Vision & Virtuosity. Photo: Tiffany & Co.
Vision & Virtuosity. Photo: Tiffany & Co.

Glimpses of the past
Chapter Five is all about Breakfast at Tiffany’s, showcasing Audrey Hepburn’s annotated script and her iconic Givenchy black satin dress, which she wears in the movie while staring at the store’s jewel-filled windows.

Chapters Six and Seven delve into the world of diamonds…and what diamonds! The display includes a Gilded Age masterpiece, a sumptuous necklace created as a garland of roses and leaves that can also be worn as a choker, bodice ornament or bracelet. Visitors can also learn about the important gemstones introduced by Tiffany to the US, such as kunzite and morganite. A brooch belonging to Empress Eugénie of France and purchased at Christie’s in an 1887 auction is also on view. Finally, on display is the 128.54-carat yellow Tiffany Diamond, which was discovered in 1877 and worn only by Hepburn, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé and American socialite E. Sheldon Whitehouse.

The exhibition has its own app, downloadable for free, through which tickets (also free) can be purchased. Vision & Virtuosity opens at the Saatchi Gallery on June 10, 2022.

Main image: The Tiffany Diamond. Photo: Tiffany & Co.

7 Comments

  1. Everything is very open and very clear explanation of issues. was truly information. Your website is very useful. Thanks for sharing.

  2. Good day! Do you know if they make any plugins to help with SEO? I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good gains. If you know of any please share. Thanks!

  3. Some really wonderful blog posts on this web site, thank you for contribution. “A religious awakening which does not awaken the sleeper to love has roused him in vain.” by Jessamyn West.

  4. Hi , I do believe this is an excellent blog. I stumbled upon it on Yahoo , i will come back once again. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and help other people.

  5. Hi, I think your site might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your website in Safari, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, fantastic blog!

Pin It