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Mario Buccellati, born 1891, in Ancona, Italy, began his jewellery career as an apprentice to goldsmith’s Beltrami and Besnati in Milan. During his apprenticeship, young Buccellati was trained in thousand-year-old metalsmithing techniques and developed an eye for refinery and elegance. In1919, he opened his first shop in the heart of Milan, and he quickly crafted a name for himself. The jeweller became renowned for his unique revivalist style, using ancient practices inspired by the techniques of ancient Greece, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, alongside contemporary methods.
The workshop and its artisan implemented engraving, repoussé and chasing, alongside filigree, niello and enamel to elevate his pieces. These techniques led to the house’s highly recognisable style, blending tradition with the glamour of La Dolce Vita, and resulting in their distinct gold and silver designs, often based on naturalistic motifs. These sumptuous designs are rich in texture and history, embodying lush textiles like lace and tulle and accentuating their fine craftsmanship.
Buccellati’s silverware and objects reference 15th-and 16th-century European art, Oriental art, and nature, enshrining memory, recollection, and dreams. He called upon classical tradition, the Florentine Renaissance, the Milanese Renaissance, and the German school to bring to life his silverwork, resulting in deeply detailed, finely crafted heirlooms.
Adam’s Buccellati mid-20th century silver and copper desk frame features an etching of Madonna of the Goldfinch: a famous image of Mary, Christ and a young John the Baptist. The most famous version of the scene can be credited to Raffaello Sanzio, one of the most renowned Italian Renaissance artists. Painted during Raphael’s Florentine period (1504-1508),the triangular composition is deeply inspired by the lost cartoon “Virgin and Child with St Anne” by Leonardo di Vinci and the “Madonna of Bruges” by Michelangelo.
Buccellati’s unique craftsmanship has solidified him as one of Italy’s most celebrated jewellers, with royal European families, great cardinals of Rome, and even the Pope being amongst his clientele. His legacy is carried on by his family, with his sons joining in the 1940s, Gianmaria, Lorenzo and Federico, and is currently maintained by his grandson Andrea.
Works Sold at Adam’s Now in the Irish National Collection
A great opportunity to purchase both established and lesser-known artist’s work at an accessible price point, the Online Picture Auction is the first of many sales to be hosted at Adam’s in 2026. It is perfect for those looking to start a collection and the discerning collector alike.
Through this article, let our expert Adam Pearson guiding you to the (re)discovery of the once established Irish painter Richard O’Neill.
Buying at Auction and the Role of Antiques in a Modern Home
Important Irish Art Auction Highlights
Oliver Dowling Collection by Aidan Dunne
2024 is a year in which Adam’s wants to recognise the key role buying antique furniture and furnishings at auction contributes greatly to the sustainable initiative. In 2019 the Environmental Protection Agency reported stark figures that each year in Ireland 1.2 million reusable bulky items, primarily furniture goes into landfill. Similar to the problem of ‘fast fashion’, the constant production and consumption of new items is leading to rapidly growing waste problem. We want to acknowledge those who are already buying second hand or antique furniture at auction and to encourage new buyers by highlighting the benefits of acquiring affordable, well-made quality items that are built to last.
Irish author, recipe creator and lifestyle influencer, Indy Parsons, selects her favourite pieces from our upcoming Fine Jewellery & Watches auction
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Cork-born Irish actress, Sarah Greene, selects her favourite pieces from our upcoming Fine Jewellery & Watches auction
Yvonne Aupicq had met Orpen, we understand, while working as a nurse during the war. He had been admitted to hospital with a suspected case of scabies which ended up being a far more serious case of blood poisoning as he recounts in his wartime memoir ‘An Onlooker in France’. Their relationship continued after 1918 when Orpen was appointed as the official artist to The Paris Peace Conference. They relocated to capital and over the following decade he painted her numerous times, often nude as in Amiens 1914, or The Rape and Nude Girl Reading (1921). Working with her as his model during these early years after the war allowed Orpen an opportunity to re-fuel his creativity.
Editor-in-Chief of IMAGE Publications, Lizzie Gore-Grimes, selects her favourite pieces from our upcoming Fine Jewellery & Watches auction
Our upcoming Fine Jewellery & Watches auction on September 13th features a prime example of Van Cleef & Arpel's renowned 'Mystery Setting'
Our June auction offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire one of the great masterpieces of Irish art and icons of Dublin’s history.
Georgia Chiesa selects some of her favourite lots in the upcoming Vintage Wine & Spirits Auction
"Beating the bounds is a tradition that can be traced back to the medieval period. At this time, land was divided into parishes and the clergy and church wardens held the responsibility for its upkeep and management. It was up to the Church to ensure that its parishioners knew the local boundary lines and, before maps became commonplace, this had to be kept as a mental record."
Adam’s in conjunction with Suzanne MacDougald are proud to host an online timed auction of artworks to aid the Irish Red Cross’s humanitarian work in delivering vital services to millions of people impacted by the conflict in Ukraine. With no buyers premium 100% of the hammer price will go directly to the Irish Red Cross.
Ros Drinkwater writes of Jack B Yeats' 'The Boat' in the Business Post:
With a consolidated result of €320,000,the At Home sale in Stephan’s Green, was a great success.
James Adam & Sons Ltd, Fine Art Auctioneers and Valuers, 26 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2,
D02 X665, Ireland
