Bulgari: Serpenti: The Power of Metamorphosis

The legendary Italian jeweler explores the power and mystique of the serpent

In this luxurious clothbound volume, the house of Bulgari meditates on the theme of metamorphosis and an ancient symbol of regeneration, the serpent. The snake has been an icon for the Roman fashion house from the 1940s to the present. Bulgari: Serpenti displays some of the opulent bags, watches and jewelry that the house has produced over its storied history relating to these themes. In order to illuminate the wealth of influence and artifice that goes into each piece, this volume brings together images of the serpent through art history and fashion history from ancient Egyptian jewelry to Alexander McQueen, Michelangelo to Mapplethorpe.
For this publication, Bulgari asked five artists to represent their own idea of metamorphosis, including Refik Anadol, Ann Veronica Janssens, Azuma Makoto, Daan Roosegaard and Vincent Van Duysen. Their responses are included.