From the seaside escape of Capri, to the upbeat boutique-lined strip of Auckland’s Parnell, comes a jewellery line with a captivating history.
Orsini Fine Jewellery in Auckland is known for its elegant and unique selection of exclusive European labels. Just arrived is Chantecler, an Italian jewellery house with a storied history and colourful, collectable designs.
Orsini’s selection is curated by founder and creative director Sarah Hutchings, who fell in love with the heritage and joyful style of the jewellery house from the sparkling isle of Capri.
“Chantecler’s jewellery was made to be worn on the beach, dancing in the sand.” So describes Christie’s Jewellery specialist Leo Criaco, of the playful nature and captivating pieces.
“Their free spirit is very much in keeping with la dolce vita,” says Criaco, explaining the lasting appeal of the atelier born in 1947 on Capri.
The coastal paradise’s deep blue coves, rugged limestone landscape and historic buildings are all part of the fabric of Chantecler, in particular in its most emblematic piece, a jewelled bell known as the Campanella.
The charm comes in an incredible range of different gemstones, colours and detailing.
Every tiny detail is studied and crafted by the skilled hands of the finest master goldsmiths in the Italian atelier.
On the island in 1944 founder Pietro Capuano, heir to a family of Neapolitan jewelers, cast a bronze bell as a gift for President Roosevelt, symbolising peace and prosperity.
The inspiration came from the Capri legend of San Michele, in which a young shepherd finds his lost sheep thanks to the tinkling of a bell given to him by the Saint. Since then, the bell has become a talisman recognised as a symbol of peace and good fortune.
Capuano later reinterpreted the bell into that recognisable Campanella charm, and today they dangle with quintessential Capri nonchalance from the links of bracelets and necklaces as well as sandals, handbags and belts.
Even the house’s name is indicative of the joyful spirit that endures. Founder Capuano was nicknamed ‘Chantecler’ for his eccentric and irreverent personality, after the rooster in the satirical play of that name by Edmond Rostand. Since his passing in 1984, the company has remained in the family, who remain dedicated to upholding the positive energy he first shared.
Over the decades the intricately detailed and sparkling Campanella bells and a wider collection of colorful high jewellery designs have captivated fans that visit the island as well as those much further afield. The proximity to stunning landscape and deep azure waters provide a rich source of inspiration, with exquisitely surreal bejeweled octopuses, jellyfish, nautilus shells, citrus fruit, and bougainvillea all part of the fun.
The colours of each piece are vivid and bright, as if caught in the famously vibrant, sun-kissed Mediterranean glow. The intricate designs combine the glamour of Italian style and skill of the region’s master goldsmiths. Stone-setters work with precision to ensure each gem enhances the natural curves of each form.
To see the collection, visit orsini.co.nz.
