Nardi

In 1926 Giulio Nardi (1897-1976) opened his eponymous boutique in the historic centre of Venice, Italy. Located at No. 69 Piazza San Marco, Nardi’s workshop and showroom initially specialised in silverware, elaborate crystal candelabras and object d’art. However, he soon moved into the manufacture of fine jewellery.

Giulio was not a native of Venice, born instead in Florence, but he fell passionately in love with the Baroque grandeur of Italy’s floating ‘City of Water’. His jewelled creations celebrated the art, architecture, and cultural history of his adopted city. Nardi proclaimed: “My love for this city of water and light is so intense that I hope my jewels are able to bring Venice to the world”.

Giulio not only adapted decorative motif’s from Venice’s architecture, he also honoured the history of Venetian goldsmithing in his work. He embraced techniques from the 18th century in his workshop’s handling of precious metals and the setting of colourful gems.

Giulio’s shops prominent location, overlooking the iconic St Mark’s Basilica, and his exceptionally executed jewels soon attracted a glittering array of clients. His boutique became an unmissable stop for glamourous visitors to the city in the 1930s to buy a jewelled memento.

Nardi’s reputation expanded further in the post war era. In the 1960s Venice drew an impressive array of aristocracy, socialites, artists, and actresses, many of whom flocked to Nardi’s boutique. Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor and Ingrid Bergman were amongst his clients.

‘Nardi’ has remained a family business. Giulio’s son, Sergio took over from his father and in turn passed the business onto his own son, Alberto. Today, Alberto continues his grandfather’s legacy in the same iconic premises on Piazza San Marco. ‘Nardi’ remains an unrivalled monument to Venetian craftsmanship.

Style/Major Collections

Nardi’s signature design is the ‘Moretto’ or ‘Blackamoor’ bust. The design was inspired by Shakespeare’s famous protagonist Othello: the ‘Moor of Venice’. The size and shape of the Moretto bust, with its elaborate jewelled turban and triangular chest, makes it a motif best suited for, and thus commonly used in, brooches, pendants and occasionally earrings. The head is typically carved in ebony or black chalcedony (onyx) which dramatically contrasts with the vibrant colours of gems set into his gold turban and elaborately embellished shirt.

The ‘Moretto’ is quintessentially Baroque in its sumptuous decoration: a quality that no doubt first attracted Giulion Nardi. Yet the motif has been popular in jewellery since the 16th century and then became a symbol of Venice embodying, quite literally, Shakespeare’s ill-fated hero Othello.

Nardi’s now iconic reworking of this ancient motif began life as an intimate love token, and ode to his beloved city, created by Nardi for his wife. However, his wife’s brooch soon attracted the admiration of Venice’s rich and glamourous and Nardi received several commissions for more Moretto pieces and the rest is history!

Today, Alberto Nardi continues reimagining the iconic design in new collections as well as a glittering array of fine jewellery inspired by the monuments of Venice and of course its shimmering waterways.