The Assouline editions we offer a book about Aldo Cipullo, the most glamorous jewelry designer of the 1970s and early 1980s.
Courtesy Renato Cipullo/All Rights Reserved
Born in Naples in 1935 into a family of jewellers, eager to take advantage of the exciting opportunities offered by the city of New York, he left Italy to enroll in the School of Visual Arts.
It should be noted that as early as 1960, Cipullo worked for the famous jeweler David Webb. Known for his bold and powerful jewelry. Then he joined Tiffany & Co., where he began to develop his own creative vocabulary.
In 1969, he joined Cartier alongside the company’s president, Michael Thomas. At the peak of his artistic career, he designed some of the most modern and timeless creations.
Like the Love bracelet, which is a revolutionary piece of jewelry. Because this bracelet is attached to the wrist of the person wearing it using a special screwdriver.
Aldo Cipullo as a designer in 1969.
Photo by Nils Herrmann, Cartier Collection © Cartier
Aldo continued in this vein in 1971 with the Nail collection, for which he drew inspiration from a nail. But daringly, he wrapped the nail around a finger or wrist, an astonishing object, typical of the dazzling glamour of the 1970s.
New York of the time.
After setting up his own business in 1974, he continues to invent stunning jewelry for men and women. In 1978, the American Gem Society asked him to design a collection using stones mined in the United States. There are turquoise from Arizona, diamonds from Arkansas, sapphires from Montana… These pieces are now part of the Smithsonian Institution.
Unfortunately, Aldo Cipullo died suddenly in 1984, but his creations, both classic and avant-garde, are still highly appreciated today.
Cipullo: Making Jewelry Modern Unveils to the reader the story of one of the most innovative and, to this day, most enigmatic talents in modern jewelry.
