Image © Giampaolo Babetto / Photograph Lorenzo Trento – PD
Giampaolo Babetto’s striking cuff presents gold in a futuristic light. Skilfully reduced to pure planes and angles, the minimalism of this piece has more in common with the audacity of modernist architecture than the conventions of traditional jewellery.
The design and manufacture graphically illustrate the versatile, tactile nature of gold as the brilliance of this bracelet lies in its desirability and wearability; the piece only truly comes to life when worn, as its angularity interacts with the softness of the human body.
One of the masters of the Padua school, Babetti prefers to work in gold because of its malleability and the softness of its sheen. In his hands, gold proves that less can indeed be more. And in his hands, and those of other goldsmiths around the world, the future history of gold in jewellery will be made.