Bespoken Sculptural Sterling Silver Necklace Graziella Laffi

A highly sculptural sterling silver necklace by Peruvian silversmith and designer Grazielle Laffi (1923-2009), Lima, circa 1970. Marks to ne...

A stunning choker style necklace in sterling silver by Graziella Laffi (1926-2009) Lima, Peru, circa 1960s. The bold necklace showcases an oversized plate...

A wide leather belt with sterling silver buckle and matching ornaments crafted by Graziella Laffi, Lima, Peru, circa 1965. The prominent silver articles feature the shape and motif rooted in pre-Columbian culture that inspired the artist's work. Mark on verso: PERU 950, extended size is 47 x 3 inches (119.4 x 7.6 cm) and weight is about 428 grams. Belt length adjustable between 27 to 38 inches. This lot with partially effaced Peruvian Cultural Ministry label to verso. Graziella Laffi was born in 1923 in Florence, Italy to Gino Laffi, a silversmith and artist. Following her family tradition, Graziella enrolled in master classes after elementary school, focusing on design and painting. She next attended Escuela de Bellas Artes de Puerta Romana for three years, where Gino taught, and then to the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, where she concentrated in architecture until the start of World War II. In 1947, Graziella, then twenty-four, immigrated with her parents to Peru. Gino later created a silversmith studio and showroom called Fabrica Laffi on Avenue Mexico, where Graziella initially learned her Craft. The Pre-Columbian culture in her adopted country inspired Graziella to travel and collect, which ultimately influence her design in the silver pieces. Graziella learned the metalworking techniques of the ancient Peruvian civilizations and rejected the current technology. She mostly used hammering, rolling and creating joints as the ancients do. As an ambassador of Peruvian culture, her work promoted the indigenous Peruvian art and rekindled the interest in its ancient heritage throughout South America, the United States and Europe. She exhibited her growing collection of Peruvian artifacts...

A bespoken sterling silver chocker necklace very bold design by Graziella Laffi, Lima, Peru, circa 1970s. The chocker features six subtly hammered roundels radiating into a trio of Axe-shaped fixed pendants, with two smaller ones flanking a large central one. The shape of the axe was often found in the Pre-Columbian art. As a bronze age tool, it symbolizes power. The necklace is not chain link but cast and joined as a solid chocker with box clasp mechanism. The design radiates a sense of history with the primitive tribal geometry in form, yet the necklace appears beyond ethnic, it exuberates a confident and bold modernistic aesthetic. The drop of the necklace on the mannequin (not included) is 11". It has an approximate 16" circumference and weighs 320 grams (10.3 troy ounces). It was tested as 900 purity with XRF analyzer. There is a Peruvian Cultural Ministry label applied and a catalog sticker on verso as shown. Graziella Laffi was born in 1923 in Florence, Italy to Gino Laffi, a silversmith and artist. Following her family tradition, Graziella enrolled in master classes after elementary school, focusing on design and painting. She next attended Escuela de Bellas Artes de Puerta Romana for three years, where Gino taught, and then to the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, where she concentrated in architecture until the start of World War II. In 1947, Graziella, then twenty-four, immigrated with her parents to Peru. Gino later created a silversmith studio and showroom called Fabrica Laffi on Avenue Mexico, where Graziella initially learned her Craft. The Pre-Columbian culture in her adopted country inspired Graziella to travel and collect, which ultimately influence her design in the silver pieces. Graziella learned the metalworking techniques of the ancient Peruvian civilizations and rejected the current technology. She mostly used hammering, rolling and creating joints as the ancients do. As an ambassador of Peruvian culture, her work promoted the indigenous Peruvian art and rekindled the interest in its ancient heritage throughout South America, the United States and Europe. She exhibited her growing collection of Peruvian artifacts...

A bespoken sterling silver necklace with five roundel bell shape of gradual sizes linked by joint chains, designed and made by Graziella Laffi, Lima, Peru, circa 1965. The subtly hammered roundels evoke a sense of history with the form found in pre-Columbian culture, yet the necklace appears beyond ethnic, it exuberates a confident and bold modernism. The necklace with Peruvian Cultural Ministry label to verso. Graziella Laffi was born in 1923 in Florence, Italy to Gino Laffi, a silversmith and artist. Following her family tradition, Graziella enrolled in master classes after elementary school, focusing on design and painting. She next attended Escuela de Bellas Artes de Puerta Romana for three years, where Gino taught, and then to the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, where she concentrated in architecture until the start of World War II. In 1947, Graziella, then twenty-four, immigrated with her parents to Peru. Gino later created a silversmith studio and showroom called Fabrica Laffi on Avenue Mexico, where Graziella initially learned her Craft. The Pre-Columbian culture in her adopted country inspired Graziella to travel and collect, which ultimately influence her design in the silver pieces. Graziella learned the metalworking techniques of the ancient Peruvian civilizations and rejected the current technology. She mostly used hammering, rolling and creating joints as the ancients do. As an ambassador of Peruvian culture, her work promoted the indigenous Peruvian art and rekindled the interest in its ancient heritage throughout South America, the United States and Europe. She exhibited her growing collection of Peruvian artifacts...

A large sterling silver vessel in an asymmetrical hour-glass vase form with a larger upper conical body balanced on a much smaller base. Crafted by Graziella Laffi, Lima, Peru, Circa 1965. Marked on the rim: G. Laffi, PERU. The vessel was designed as a modern rendition of ancient pre-Columbina drinking vessel used in ceremony. The piece projects a regal and substantial aura due to its thick double wall construction with seamless craftmanship. The exterior surface was decorated with high relief roundels with concentric rings, arranged in geometrical pattern in two difference sizes. It is an impressive presence with its unique form and ornamentation that is modern and ancient at the same time. The vessel weights about 2012 grams. Graziella Laffi was born in 1923 in Florence, Italy to Gino Laffi, a silversmith and artist. Following her family tradition, Graziella enrolled in master classes after elementary school, focusing on design and painting. She next attended Escuela de Bellas Artes de Puerta Romana for three years, where Gino taught, and then to the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, where she concentrated in architecture until the start of World War II. In 1947, Graziella, then twenty-four, immigrated with her parents to Peru. Gino later created a silversmith studio and showroom called Fabrica Laffi on Avenue Mexico, where Graziella initially learned her Craft. The Pre-Columbian culture in her adopted country inspired Graziella to travel and collect, which ultimately influence her design in the silver pieces. Graziella learned the metalworking techniques of the ancient Peruvian civilizations and rejected the current technology. She mostly used hammering, rolling and creating joints as the ancients do. As an ambassador of Peruvian culture, her work promoted the indigenous Peruvian art and rekindled the interest in its ancient heritage throughout South America, the United States and Europe. She exhibited her growing collection of Peruvian artifacts...

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