Verdura: The Life and Work of a Master Jeweler
Through Feb. 17, 2008 at the Houston Museum of Natural Science
Jewelry with the original renderings will be displayed.
Born in 1898, Duke Fulco di Verdura is probably best known for his Maltese Cross bracelets that he designed for Coco Chanel. He worked with Chanel in Paris in the 20’s & 30’s then moved to America in 1934 and worked with Paul Flato for a while before opening his own company in 1939.
Nature was inspiration for many of his designs. He loved color and mixed materials regardless of the value encrusting with gems sea shells, pearls, animals, fruit and leaves. His jewelry adorned many stars and they wore it in the movies they filmed. Keep a close eye on Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo and Rita Hayworth and you will see it. Cole Porter commissioned him to create cigarette boxes to commemorate each show.
Verdura died in London in 1978.
In 1985, Ward Landrigan purchased the firm and has been reviving his unique designs.
I’ve always been drawn to Verdura’s renderings because I enjoy rendering in watercolor and gouache so much myself and love his sense of whimsy and style. I visited the 5th Avenue salon in New York while studying at FIT (1988-89) to get a first hand look at his designs.
