Dames and Knights: Jewels of Honors

The Museo del Gioiello (Jewellery Museum) in Vicenza, Italy, debuts ‘Dames and Knights’ exhibition. The new temporary exhibition focusing on jewels presented as honors in Italy, other European countries and other world regions, a practice that stretched from the Middle Ages to modern times. Titled “Dames and Knights. Jewels of Honors”  and curated by Alessandra Possamai, it opens to the public Wednesday, May 24th and runs till September 17th.

Medals, insignia and decorations that date back to the 11th century with Knighthood honors bestowed purely on men who highly distinguished themselves, a usage that was extended to women in 1662. The items are curated to celebrate this artistic genre as a subject worth noting due to its quality, origin and proof of the history of different countries and geographical areas. The itinerary takes a visitor on a journey through time and honorary decoration culture with provides explanations of their intrinsic and evocative meanings. It serves as a piece of Italian and European history that recalls a value that was handed down through the years with the aim of rewarding praiseworthy actions in the fields of literature, arts and economy and for commitment in carrying out public duties and activities for social, philanthropic and humanitarian purposes as well as for long-standing and remarkable services in civil and military careers.

The exhibition, on the ground floor of the jewelry museum in Basilica Palladiana, Vicenza's heart, is arranged in two sections: the first will display about 40 Knighthood honors and decorations selected from pre-eminent and rare collections around the world. In addition, ten items pay tribute to the collection of former of Giovanni Giolitti, who was the Prime Minister in Italian history five times between 1892 and 1921. There are honorary decorations that serve as symbols of Italian history: the Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus, the Insignia of the Grand Cross, the Collar of Our Lady of the Annunciation, the Grand Collar of St. George and the Colonial Order of the Star of Italy's Grand Cross.

The second section is dedicated to Dames with about ten items, including Insignia of the Ordo Supremus Militaris Templi Hierosolymitani and the Legion of Honor's Insignia of Knighthood.

The exhibition will also be presenting about ten creations by G.B. Ballarino, a goldsmith from a company with a long tradition in the field of honorary decorations, authorized to raise the arms of Casa Savoia (Royal House of Savoy) and the Royal House of Bulgaria through gold, enamel and precious stone cross pendants.

Arianna Pinton

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