Bulgari Melone Vintage Clutch

Few fine jewelry houses offer evening bags in the idiom of their fine jewelry as successfully as Bulgari, whose clutch bags are jewels to themselves. The 1970s was the perfect decade for the Bulgari big, bold, and gold aesthetic - fully culminated in this spectacular Melone Fluted Tassel Clutch. With the flourishing Dolce Vita era, the Bulgari store on Via Condotti became one of the favorite meeting places for movie stars and socialites, thus amplifying the international fame of the House. La Dolce Vita by Frederico Fellini was released in 1960 and sparked the era of Dolce far niente, or the sweetness of doing nothing. The movie was set at the end of the 1950s when Rome was lively and well-recovered from the disasters of WWII. These were economic boom years where the fulfillment of life's beautiful purpose was to live and enjoy every relaxing, sweet moment.

The precursor to this look is the minaudière, a women's fashion accessory, generally considered a jewelry piece, intended to substitute for an evening bag. It is a decorated case in precious materials for storing small items such as powder, lipstick, and keys. The minaudière first appeared during the 1930s. Its invention is attributed to Charles Arpels of Van Cleef & Arpels, but many jewelers and haute couture designers created their models at the time. Bulgari established the Italian jewelry design school based on ancient Roman models, contrasting the delicate Parisian high-fashion jewelry of the late 19th century. Where the Parisian model pursued fragility and a light touch, the Italian school celebrated glorious weight and volume, as exemplified in this 18K gold evening bag-meets jewelry. By the 1970s, this style was embraced worldwide, setting the stage for the following fine jewelry houses.

This iconic, original vintage Bulgari Melone Vintage Fluted Tassel Clutch was made in Italy and molded in ballooning fluted stripes of 18K yellow and white gold. One oval cabochon sapphire accents the lock, lengthwise, opening the discreet oblong-shaped bag. A black silk tassel handle is knotted on a gold hexagonal loop, imitating where the melon would have been attached to the vine. This palm-sized bag's rich materials and glorious styling are akin to a precious Fabergé Egg, although interpreted in a modern, functional aesthetic. The overall shape is a fusion of styles - also reminiscent of Japanese netsuke and fine lacquer inro - a decorative and practical toggle case for small objects suspended from the obi belt, among other influences. The bag is a collector's must-have, with the original Bulgari pouch and a smaller oval-shaped custom mirror fixed inside.

Includes Bulgari dust bag. Measures approx. 13.7 x 8.9 x 3.2 cm (5 3?8 x 3 1?2 x 1 1?4 in). 18k yellow and white mixed metal gold; gross weight approx. 362.5 grams. Stamped Bvlgari; circa 1970.

SKU :O1022
Category :OTHER
Metal :18KYG