Tiffany & Co. to exhibit 200 years of legacy at Saatchi Gallery

Schenelle Dsouza 

Tiffany & Co. will collaborate with Saatchi Gallery in London to celebrate 150 years of its iconic London Store. 

The brand has been an important part of the diamond jewellery industry since 1837 with its first store opening in New York’s Lower Manhattan area. 

Aside from New York, London was the next iconic stop for Tiffany’s. And now, the renowned jeweller is all set to celebrate the 150th birthday of its London store. Collaborating with London’s esteemed Saatchi Gallery, Tiffany & Co. will host an exhibition titled “Vision & Virtuosity”. The exhibition will take place from June 10 to August 19, 2022.  

Tiffany’s through the years 

The two-month-long exhibition is divided into seven chapters and will take visitors on a journey through its glorious past, from Tiffany’s famed window displays to its recently acquired Empire Diamond of over 80 carats, among other relics. 

The first section takes viewers through the legacy of founder Charles Lewis Tiffany. Here, viewers will get to see his work through the years, as well as his possessions. Following next, are subsequent sections featuring some of the House’s most creative forces such as Jean Schlumberger and Elsa Peretti. 

Jean Schlumberger is referred to as one of the most gifted artisans of the 20th century. The designer had a flair for fantastical creations, sculptural designs combined with extraordinary gemstones and magical patterns. The Ribbon Rosette Necklace set with the iconic Tiffany Yellow diamond was Schlumberger’s most notable work.

Elsa Peretti’s work was transformational for jewellery design. Her work was was said to have revolutionized design and women’s jewellery transforming it into a more contemporary collection of everyday wear pieces like dainty pendants, tiny studs and delicate bracelets.

Next comes the section devoted to the annual Blue Book high jewellery collection. The Blue Book is Tiffany’s annual collection of innovative jewellery designs, the most exquisite pieces that honour old-world craftsmanship. In addition to recent collections, this section also includes the mail order catalogue of rare high jewellery that made its debut in 1845. 

Naturally, the fourth room focuses on Tiffany’s heritage in the world of love and commitment. The luxury jewellery launched the very first Tiffany® setting engagement ring in 1886.

The Tiffany Diamond

The fifth space has to be one of the most exciting sections of the exhibition. A tribute to the iconic movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s, this section features mementoes from the movie including its original script and the infamous Tiffany Diamond worn by Audrey Hepburn. 

The Tiffany Diamond is one of Tiffany’s most extraordinary historic diamonds ever. The rough yellow diamond was first discovered in 1877 by founder Charles Lewis Tiffany. In all, only four women have worn the Tiffany Yellow Diamond – socialite Mary Whitehouse in 1957, Audrey Hepburn during the promotions of Breakfast at Tiffany’s in 1967, Lady Gaga at the 2019 Oscars and Beyonce for Tiffany’s About Love campaign in August 2021.

Takeaways  

The 160-page exhibition catalogue, available in two sizes, will present viewers with highlights from the exhibition. This includes creations by the House’s most influential visionaries like Louis Comfort Tiffany, Gene Moore, Jean Schlumberger, Elsa Peretti, Paloma Picasso and John Loring. The catalogue will also feature a foreword by the late Andre Leon Talley along with text by Vivienne Becker. People can purchase the catalogue from the exhibition’s gift shop, as well as at Tiffany’s Old Bond Street store.

Additionally, an exclusive curation of artist collaborations and limited-release items in Tiffany’s iconic robin egg blue will also be available at the gift shop. These collaborations include t-shirts and hoodies designed by Daniel Arsham, Tiffany & Co. x Wilson® American footballs, quartersnacks skateboards, Mellow Gemini vases, Krink paint markers, Caran d’Ache pen and pencil sets and Bellocq tea sets. 

Speaking about the exhibition, Anthony Ledru, President and Chief Executive Officer, Tiffany & Co. says, ”‘Vision & Virtuosity’ tells the extraordinary story of one of the oldest luxury jewelers, through its nearly 200-year history of pioneering creativity, legendary craftsmanship and sourcing of the world’s most extraordinary diamonds and gemstones. This exhibition perfectly captures our long-standing heritage in bridging tradition and modernity. We are thrilled to share the world of Tiffany & Co. and our unique high jewellery style with London.” 

Tickets for the exhibition are available on Tiffany & Co.’s Apple and Play Store app stores. While admission is free, pre-booking is strongly advised due to limited capacity.  

You may also like:

Kundan jewellery with a Payal Singhal twist

Tata CLiQ Luxury ventures into fine jewellery with Forevermark