Pomellato, Venetian Heritage Team on Restoration Project
● The Italian jeweler has contributed to funding an innovative illumination system conceived for the facade of the Ca' d'Oro in Venice.
VENICE — Pomellato is helping to add a touch of gold to Venice.
The Italian jeweler has collaborated once again with the international foundation Venetian Heritage, which protects and promotes the artistic legacy of Venice, on the Light and Reflections project.
Pomellato has contributed to the funding of an innovative illumination system created for the facade of the Ca' d'Oro on the Grand Canal. The Gothic palazzo features an exquisite openwork marble facade that in the past was partially gilded, which led to its name that translates into “golden house” in English.
“We are committed to preserving and sharing the excellence of Italian craftsmanship, both past and present,” said Sabina Belli, chief executive officer of Pomellato. The Ca' d'Oro exemplifies “the incredible Italian artisanal skills and its marvelous facade reflects Venice's rich and varied visual culture.”
She highlighted the expertise of the many artisans working in Venice, and the need to protect this know-how, “to preserve the patrimony of humanity.”
Belli has long championed this view and Pomellato, for example, has for years partnered with Milanese goldsmith Academy Galdus, investing in a younger generation of goldsmiths to safeguard its tradition, to “maintain this métier alive and to stimulate young people to embrace this career.”
Belli underscored the importance of protecting Venice and its masterpieces and of pairing with Venetian Heritage to this end. Given the wealth of landmark artworks and monuments in the city, state resources are limited and private support becomes necessary, she contended.
“Ca' d'Oro is one of Venice's marvels that have been left unattended over time and abandoned, with a facade that was damaged over centuries — it's such a terrible shame,” she continued.
Venetian Heritage is also restoring the State Museum Galleria Giorgio Franchetti inside Ca' d'Oro, which houses Andrea Mantegna's famed painting “San Sebastian,” she pointed out.
The low-environmental impact nighttime lighting system was designed to enhance the polychrome marble of the facade, which will shine once again, evoking the former gilding, the executive explained. Leading international specialist in sustainable architectural lighting Erco has conceived outdoor light fittings using LED technology.
The completion of the works will be officially unveiled on Wednesday evening, coinciding with the Venice Film Festival.
Marking the completion of the works, Pomellato has created a one-of-a-kind Venetian Dream diamond-set high jewelry necklace inspired by Ca' d'Oro. Creative director Vincenzo Castaldo distilled the ornamental design of four leaves resembling a flower on the facade into three geometrical shapes that form the rose gold pendant. The irregular silhouettes of seven fancy-cut diamonds set in a line are meant to reflect the water of the Grand Canal against the building. The chain is set with more than 4,000 diamonds.
“The Venetian Dream necklace is a composition of mirrored elements,” Castaldo said.
“The jewel captures the magical play of light and reflections on the lagoon. The airiness of the design and the unusual setting of the pendant's diamonds capture Venice's surreal lighting atmosphere and its almost impossible combination of magnificent architecture floating on water.”
The necklace will only be available in Pomellato's Venice boutique.
Pomellato has previously worked with Venetian Heritage on the restoration works of the Epistle Ambo in St. Mark's Basilica in 2022 and the Doge Morosini monument in 2020.
In a separate interview, Toto Bergamo Rossi, director of Venetian Heritage, said the foundation shares with Pomellato “a passion for preserving the arts” and special masterpieces. “The lighting project for the facade of the Ca' d'Oro is the result of an innovative lighting study that takes into account the perforations, volumes, and colors of the facade.”
He stressed the uniqueness of the palazzo and of the museum, which is being entirely renovated in collaboration with Fondazione Giulio e Giovanna Sacchetti.
Pomellato, founded in Milan, has long underscored its link with that city and Belli pointed out that the Ca' d'Oro archives reveal that Italian architect and sculptor Matteo Raverti, who oversaw the construction of the building between 1421 and 1441, also worked on Milan's Gothic Duomo cathedral between 1389 and 1404.
Belli also noted that Pomellato's parent Kering has strong connections with Venice, through the Pinault Collection at Palazzo Grassi and Punta della Dogana.