Running from December 7, 2025 to January 5, 2026, The Prince of Goldsmiths exhibition at the Shanghai Exhibition Center shows how four generations have crafted the Buccellati story
The exhibition showcases how the Italian family has preserved, deconstructed and reassembled goldsmithing traditions across four generations into what is now the Buccellati brand story. The exhibition presents a rare collection of archival masterpieces, complemented by select treasures generously loaned by VIP patrons.
The exhibition title comes from the name given to Mario Buccellati by writer Gabriele D’Annunzio in 1936, The Prince of Goldsmiths. Nearly a century later, it is being used again in Shanghai. This time, reframing the brand’s design core through a contemporary exhibition lens: chiselled gold, intricate engraving, lace-like metal textures, and the meticulous use of natural materials.
The exhibition opens with The Buccellati Generations, using the butterfly as a symbol of transformation and continuity. Four brooches designed by different family members allow visitors to grasp the evolution of the brand’s visual language within moments.
An Italian Family Story follows, shifting into a more intimate space. Old photographs, sketches and everyday objects are placed side by side, grounding the understanding that Buccellati’s creations are not abstract art. Instead, it is the result of a family’s sustained devotion to craftsmanship. It is not a flashy curatorial approach, but an effective one that anchors the brand’s history in something tangible.
Exhibition design
The Shanghai showcase continues the curatorial direction of the 2024 Venice debut, again led by Balich Wonder Studio with Alba Cappellieri as curator. Classical elements in columns, symmetry and proportion that form the foundation of the space, while multimedia installations bridge the experience to modern exhibition habits. Besides, Panda Silverware is specially curated by Buccellati for this Shanghai event. The piece showcases the iconic Furry Animal motif in exquisite detail. Among the highlights is a bespoke jewelry set, originally crafted by Buccellati for the legendary Ms. Anita Mui to wear at her final concert. It is a timeless tribute to her enduring elegance.
Creative Director Claudio Sbragion describes the exhibition as “a constantly evolving project”, as Buccellati’s archives and craftsmanship remain in constant motion. The Shanghai edition also introduces more juxtaposed displays with Italian artworks, giving visitors a clearer view of the relationship between inspiration and final creation.
Even under the Richemont Group, Buccellati remains managed by family members at its core. The brand’s distinction does not lie in extravagant gemstone scale, but in its unique engraving techniques, dimensional metalwork and the ability to render fabric-like textures in gold.
These elements are presented without romantic embellishment. Instead, the exhibition focuses on tools, processes, textural details and the evolution of design drafts. As a visitor, you understand why Buccellati pieces, though delicate in appearance, are fundamentally the result of accumulated technique and generational craftsmanship.
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