Elsa Peretti: the Point of View
Tradition and craftsmanship: these are the solid bases of a brilliant 50-years-old career, spent designing cult items of contemporary jewelry
«I have been devoted purely to creativity for many years, at the beginning of my career at Tiffany»
«Defending a tradition that is in our DNA, I mean an esthetic culture that can last through time, is the very basis of all my work. To this I add an extreme respect for artisans, for those who have the capacity and ability to translate what my hand has designed into objects. When I began my career, the relationship between designer and craftsman was rather different, equal I would say: you collaborated side by side, aware that the result was that of teamwork. Although I have been devoted purely to creativity for many years, at the beginning of my career at Tiffany, in 1974, and before that at two workshops in Spain and Italy, I had learned the craftsman's work. A hard work, which made me realize how much the success of an idea depends largely on the ability and technique that are often left in the shadows. In short, I believe that I am a clear example of how the tradition and craftsmanship pair is a winning one, because it has been working for me for almost 50 years. And I hope that my fiftieth anniversary will be projected into the future, that it will continue, because it has always been my direction.»
