Style Letter Italy 23
23. STYLE LETTER ITALY - ANTONIO PALLADINO
5 pages plus 2-3 pgs of interview at end - use pics as you like
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PAGE ONE:
A stylistic signature
There is no arguing with the technical skills of the designer
Antonio Palladino. His treatment of precious metals is masterly.
The built-in flexibility of his jewellery, supported by a framework
revealing a cobweb of interlocking links has an organic sculpted
quality designed to complement the lines of the body. Palladino's
goldsmithing products are unique pieces, giving an impression of
volume without being at all heavy. Using sophisticated techniques
he creates seemingly weightless structures as if the actual
strength and resilience of gold - the main element - had captured a
beautiful fragility.
PAGE TWO:
Animal Attraction
There is something sexy and dangerous about the large exotic sea
and savannah creatures that look great wrapped around wrists in
bangle form or following along with the swinging motion of the neck
in the shape of extremely flattering chokers. The world of
Palladino is not only fluid and liquid, but also mainly feminine.
Each piece of jewellery has an organic movement: bedazzled snakes
slither across the body with ineffable chic while octopus cocktail
rings absorb and distribute the movement by means of their
tentacles.
PAGE THREE:
Cut to mimic
Diamonds may be girls' best friends, but Palladino's large, heavily
polished pieces, hammered and cut into shape, are designed to have
the same look and all the glitter at a fraction of the cost. At
first glance they may appear to have gemstones in them, but infact
the impression is due to the special surface texturing. The facets
cut into the gold, defining a series of grooves and 'mesas' with
sloping sides, improve and enhance the light-reflecting
characteristics of the jewellery and give the luxe look its
finishing touches.
INTERVIEW WITH ANTONIO PALLADINO
Q: Can you tell me how you came to be involved in making
jewellery?
A: I have 3 generations of goldsmiths in my family. I was born
listening to talks about gold and precious stones. Since my
childhood I loved jewellery and then I decided to dedicate all my
life to this art. For a long time, I have been thinking about a new
project in life but I did not have the courage to start. Then one
day I decided to try, to dare test something out of my tradition.
Nothing is impossible if you really want it and so, day after day,
with passion and determination I succeeded in overcoming the
initial problems and now my new creations have been accepted and
appreciated. It has not been easy, but this new adventure has made
me grow further. I met persons who believed in my capacities and
they have helped me to go over the bad periods. Today I am happy
about the results, but I do not intend to rest. I look forward to
the next challenge. One cannot stop because the market is evolving
all the time, and so is the need of new stimuli.
Q: What inspired you in the creation of your jewellery?
A: The market required something new, something capable of
astonishing the client, something totally new.
Today everything is taken for granted, it looks that nothing new
can exist and homologation seems to be compulsory.
I launched into the market a product with the clear objective to
create interest and to surprise the public.
This was the birth of the "Palladino" collection: satisfy the
request from the market with a new product, which is creating
excitement and innovation.
Q: How would you best describe a woman who wears your
jewellery?
A: Somebody who want to be different, someone with a strong and
charismatic personality, who loves to be a centre of attention, who
is capable to match fashion and style, elegance and eccentricity. I
always hope that this person has the same joy in wearing my
products that I felt in creating them. Each piece is numbered and
there are only 299 samples in order to underline the uniqueness and
luxury of each handcrafted piece.
Q: Which technology do you utilize?
A: My technique has as nickname the word "luminosity", because it
succeed in giving to the precious metal a particular glow unique in
this kind…….this thanks to a secret process, that I
cannot disclose.
Q: Do you enjoy working with gold?
A: I worked with gold for almost 40 years… The Palladino
company can boast a long tradition of goldsmiths, but our attention
is totally directed to the new market trends.
Q: Who creates your pieces?
A: I follow personally every phase, from the project to the
production. I like to exchange ideas with my staff, listen to the
different opinions, control that everything is manufactured in the
best possible way. The initial drawings are made by a group of
experienced designers, but the original idea comes from my analysis
of the new needs and requests from the consumers
Pics and creds
Captions
Designs by Antonio Palladino
1-Crab bracelet, white gold
2- Snake bracelet, white gold
3- Snake bracelet, white gold
4- Octopus bracelet, white gold
5- Crocodile bracelet and earrings, white gold
6-Tiger necklace and brooch, white gold
7-Tiger bracelets and ring, enamelled yellow gold
8-Octopus ring and earrings, white gold
9-Cross pendent, white gold
9-White and yellow gold earrings
9-Spider brooch, white gold
9-Tiger brooch, white gold
For further information, please contact:
Antonio Palladino
info: +39 335 236220
email: palladino.gioielli@gmail.com
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