A love of tradition set Mario Buccellati and his fine jewelry house apart in the competitive Italian market and remains a point of pride for the family.
In 1919, Mario launched Buccellati with the opening of his first shop in Milan and quickly built a reputation for his richly embellished traforato, or finely pierced goldwork. The Ancona, Italy–born jeweler’s workmanship was in a class of its own. His rings, earrings, bracelets and other accessories were exquisite, yet the gemstones themselves were never too flashy, elevated instead by the designs’ intricate metalsmithing.
Today the Buccellati family is still closely tied to the business even as it is now owned by Richemont, a luxury conglomerate that also counts Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels among its subsidiaries.
A young Mario Buccellati apprenticed with famed goldsmith Beltrami e Besnati in the early 1900s, although many of the goldsmithing techniques synonymous with Buccellati go as far back as the Italian Renaissance. The family lineage is also said to include 18th-century jeweler Contardo Buccellati.
Owing to the founder’s advanced metalworking skills, the brand is known for designs that feature metal with the delicacy of lace and draw on the wonders of the natural world. The house’s work is typified by intricate gemstone settings that emphasize their natural color and dense engraving techniques that transform the texture of gold.
One of the time-honored engraving techniques that has come to characterize Buccellati’s work — techniques that require apprenticeships and training in the fine jeweler’s workshops — is called rigato. It involves the engraving of a precious metal with a series of parallel lines to achieve a fabric-like effect.
Rigato is on luminous display in the house’s Macri collection of earrings, cuff bracelets and other accessories. A painstaking attention to detail is pronounced in the celebrated Macri, Bartolomeo and Unica collections — witness the striking honeycomb motif, a house signature, that characterizes the Unica collection’s Caterina bracelet, for example.
The Macri collection was the work of Mario’s son, Gianmaria Buccellati, an award-winning jeweler and internationally renowned silversmith who worked to bring the brand to the global stage by overseeing the opening of boutiques in Tokyo, Paris, California and elsewhere.
In 1951, Mario opened his first store in New York City; today the company operates boutiques worldwide. In 2019, the company celebrated its centennial with a new flagship in Paris and the Vintage collection, which features some of its most enduring designs.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of authentic Mario Buccellati jewelry today.
Mario Buccellati Vintage Diamond Gold Compact Box
By Mario Buccellati
Located in Miami, FL
This Mario Buccellati vintage diamond 18K yellow gold compact box from 1940's features a diamond accent closure in 18K white gold with rose-cut diam...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold
$1,250
H 0.99 in W 1.19 in L 1.42 in
Rare Matthew Linwood Gilt Georgian English Sterling Silver Seashell Form Box
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine and rare antique English Georgian sterling silver box. In the rare figural form of a snail shell or seashell. The interior of the box is gilt. It was made by Matthew Linwood...
Sterling Silver
$895
H 0.63 in W 3 in D 1.88 in
Antique Viennese or Austrian Engine-Turned Silver Card Case or Snuff Box
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique silver card case or snuff box. With engine turned engraved decoration throughout. Marked with an Austrian silver assay mark for 13 Loth, Vienna, and 1856, along with...
Silver
$1,800
H 0.5 in W 1.88 in L 2.5 in
Antique Gilt American Coin Silver Snuff Box attributed to Benjamin Tappin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique gilt silver snuff box. With engraved decorations to the top & monograms to both the top & bottom. Struck with what appears to be...
Silver, Gilt Metal
$649Sale Price|20% Off
W 3.94 in L 3.15 in
Art Deco Leather Book Style Powder Compact with wrist strap by Mondaine 1920’s
By Mondaine
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
This is a beautiful Art Deco book style powder compact in deep blue leather with a fabric wrist strap. Dating from the 1920’s with three compartments insid...
Brass
Carter Gough & Co. Sapphire Yellow Gold Ladies Compact
By Carter Gough & Co.
Located in Stamford, CT
Art Deco ladies compact circa 1910-1919 from Carter, Gough and Co. Notepad and pencil compartment behind the mirror. Extra fine engraving and detail work. 1 sapphire approx total weight. .50cts 5x3.5 Top to Bottom: 54.26 mm or 2.13 in. Width: 84.53 mm or 3.32 in Depth or Thickness: 8.26 107.3 grams Tested: 14k Stamped: 14k Hallmark: Carter and Gough
Sapphire, 14k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
$3,409
H 0.95 in W 3.15 in D 2.37 in
Rare circa 1900 Sterling Silver Diamond and Enamel Powder Compact with Lipstick
Located in GB
Wimbledon Furniture We are delighted to offer For sale this stunning circa 1900 French or Italian Sterling silver Diamond & Enamel powder compact with lipstick...
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Navajo Fox Mine Turquoise and Sterling Box, Circa 1900
By Navajo
Located in Coeur d Alene, ID
Navajo sterling silver and Fox turquoise box. This box has an amazing finish and styling that resembles the Navajo stamp work of the early 1900’s. On t...
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
$454Sale Price|29% Off
H 0.4 in Dm 1.97 in
1920’s Blue Enamel Art Deco Powder Compact by Richard Hudnut
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
This beautiful round compact has squared off edges, the enamel is in an unusual duck egg blue and a contrasting deeper blue on the front, being completed...
Enamel
Mario Buccellati Silver and Gold Compact with Rubies, Italy, 1940s
By Mario Buccellati
Located in Napoli, NA
An elegant and highly collectible powder compact by Mario Buccellati, crafted in Italy in the 1940s. Executed in solid 800 silver, the case features the maison’s iconic hand-engraved...
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
$1,795
H 2.5 in W 5.5 in D 4.75 in
Antique French Metal Trinket Box with Porcelain Sistine Madonna Cherub Plaque
Located in Tustin, CA
Beautiful antique, handcrafted French bronze and brass scalloped hinged jewelry or trinket or vanity box from the 19th century features a round porcelain plaque or disc, bezel set in the lid, exquisitely hand painted with a famous image depicting one of the cherubs from the "Sistine Madonna" by Raphael Sanzio, also known as "Cherubs from the Madonna of San Sisto", which was originally painted between 1513 -1514. This is considered to be one of the most popular angel images...
$2,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 2.25 in W 3.25 in
CELESTE HOLM Tiffany & Co. Silver Envelope Compact Songwriter's Hall of Fame
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
We are thrilled to offer the Tiffany & Co. Silver Envelope Compact belonging to legendary Oscar Winning actress CELESTE HOLM which was given to her and inscribed by the Songwriter's Hall of Fame. The stylized envelope is of brushed silver, opening to reveal a powder mesh and puff signed Estée Lauder, with inner top flap engraved 'Songwriter's Hall of Fame March 8, 1977'. The compact is signed Tiffany & Co., Sterling 925, Italy. Celeste Holm (April 29, 1917 – July 15, 2012) was an American stage, film and television actress. Holm won an Academy Award for her performance in Elia Kazan's Gentleman's Agreement (1947), and was nominated for her roles in Come to the Stable (1949) and All About Eve (1950). She also is known for her performances in The Snake Pit (1948), A Letter to Three Wives (1949), and High Society (1956). She is also known for originating the role of Ado Annie in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma! (1943) and the Soap Opera Loving. We have other pieces of Jewelry from the estate of Celeste Holm including a Riviere Necklace as well as her Tiffany Jewelry Box. We also have fabulous pieces of jewelry belonging to Lauren Bacall, Carol Channing, Ginger Rogers, opera singer Jessye Norman...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Victorian Sterling Silver Heart Box Jewelry Dresser Pill Patch Box
Located in New York, NY
THIS IS A WONDERFUL ANTIQUE VICTORIAN HEART SHAPE BOX WITH A STERLING SILVER REPOUSSE ENGRAVED TOP OF EXTRAORDINARY BEAUTY WITH A CRYSTAL BOTTOM. THE SILVER JEWELRY, KEEPSAKE, DRES...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Mario Buccellati Frame Black Pouch Bag with Pearl
By Mario Buccellati
Located in New York, NY
Mario Buccellati Frame Black Pouch Bag with Pearl Rose-cut diamonds, various sizes of emeralds of approximately 2.5 carats, natural saltwater pearl (...
Pearl, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
Mario Buccellati Vintage Yellow Gold Lipstick Case with White Gold Applique
By Mario Buccellati
Located in Miami, FL
Bejewelled, elaborate and delicate, this vintage circa 1950's tassel lipstick case is the essence of elegance. Miniatures demonstrate the most elevated type of craftsmanship by Mario...
18k Gold
1980s Buccellati Sapphire Emerald gold Gem Set Compact
By Mario Buccellati
Located in Firenze, IT
PLEASE NOTE: OUR PRICE IS FULLY INCLUSIVE OF SHIPPING, IMPORTATION TAXES & DUTIES. The textured gold cover decorated with engraved floral motifs set with eight cabochon sapphire...
Emerald, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
A BUCCELLATI Engraved Compact
By Mario Buccellati
Located in New York, NY
An engraved compact of foliate design, with gold ropetwist trim and a cabochon sapphire, in sterling silver. M. Buccellati, Italy.
Sapphire, Sterling Silver
M. BUCCELLATI 18k 2-Tone Gold Peridot Lorgnette Pendant
By Mario Buccellati
Located in New York City, NY
intage and very rare 18k white and yellow gold lorgnette set with peridots, by Mario Buccellati. This wonderful item can be used as an interesting and useful pendant to a necklace f...
Peridot, 18k Gold