Cristina Celestino Designs the Bangle Collection for Budri

Cristina Celestino has designed the Bangle Collection for Italian haute couture atelier Budri, known for their work with marble and semiprecious stones. The series consists of vases, jewelry boxes, and a tray, inspired by d’antan jewelry – particularly bakelite bracelets. The artificial resin, an innovative material discovered in the early 1900s, made it possible to create jewelry with carvings and inclusions in a variety of bright colors. Bakelite also frequently mimicked precious materials such as marble, ivory, and tortoiseshell.

Photo: Lorenzo Chiccoli

For the Bangle Collection, Celestino designed six vases using stacks of over-scaled bakelite-inspired “bracelets”. She alternated veined materials with solid marbles to create a color block effect, and then added in semi-transparent onyx. The line beautifully combines fine materials through the use of high technology and skilled craftsmanship.

Photo: Lorenzo Chiccoli

Photo: Lorenzo Chiccoli

Photo: Budri

Photo: Budri

Photo: Budri

Photo: Budri

Photo: Budri

Photo: Budri

Photo: Lorenzo Chiccoli

Photo: Lorenzo Chiccoli

Kelly Beall is a Pittsburgh-based writer, editor, and designer with a passion for art, design, and creative culture. Best known for Design Crush, she enjoys discovering and sharing inspiring creative work. When she's not writing, she's likely tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or spending time with her three pets: Bebe, Rainey, and Remy.

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