Aquae Mirabiles

BUCCELLATI PRESENTS AQUAE MIRABILES, AN IMMERSIVE INSTALLATION BY LUKE EDWARD HALL TO CELEBRATE THE SILVER CAVIAR COLLECTION On the occasion of Milan Design Week 2026, Buccellati unveils Aquae Mirabiles, an immersive installation curated by Federica Sala, designed by Balich Wonder Studio, and with the collaboration of Luke Edward Hall, who, through his drawings, was able to give artistic expression to the concept, transforming it into a tangible, evocative visual experience. The exhibition celebrates the Caviar silverware collection and its iconic microsphere motif. With a language that blends epic grandeur and poetic sensitivity, the installation immerses visitors in the Maison’s universe, creating a luminous and evocative narrative deeply rooted in Italian tradition. A CONTEMPORARY NYMPHAEUM SHAPED BY MYTH AND WONDER In the spaces adjacent to Buccellati’s headquarters in Piazza Tomasi di Lampedusa, Balich Wonder Studio has created the temporary structure for Aquae Mirabiles. From the outside, it resembles a Water theatre, but inside, a submerged world comes alive: an imagined Atlantis where history, myth, and fantasy intertwine. Through a series of immersive environments, enriched by watercolor drawings by Luke Edward Hall, the installation retraces the history of Italian caviar, evoking a visual universe that spans eras and iconographies. Even before entering, visitors are introduced to the mysteries of the waters through Roman mythological figures drawn as statues by the English artist: including Neptune, the Naiads, Tiberinus, god of the Tiber, and the sirens. Stepping inside the structure is like plunging into the depths of the sea, following the journey of the Italian sturgeon from the open waters to freshwater realms. The first gallery immerses visitors in the depths of the sea, showcasing magnificent silver sturgeons alongside creations from the Marina collection. Surfaces, textures, and designs inspired by the underwater world create an [email protected] ethereal, suspended atmosphere. In this evocative setting, the sturgeons shine like points of light, guiding the visual journey and offering an experience that blends calm, shadow, and metallic reflections. The journey culminates in the second space, the true heart of the installation: a sumptuous submerged banquet. A table shaped like a wave displays the entire Caviar collection. Visitors are invited into a world where silver tableware merges with imagined crystalline currents, sinuous shores, and shimmering hues of emerald, turquoise, and deep blue. The walls, brought to life by the unmistakable touch of Luke Edward Hall, conjure a fantastical universe that traces the often little-known history of Italian caviar. Through allegorical figures, Hall navigates eras, events, and legends: from records of ancient Rome to papal cookbooks, from Renaissance paintings in the Pinacoteca di Brera to Milanese legends such as the banquet Leonardo da Vinci designed for the wedding of Ludovico il Moro and Beatrice d’Este. A richly evocative visual narrative takes shape, inviting visitors to experience a story both timeless and imaginative. CAVIAR: A FORMAL LANGUAGE ENDURING THROUGH TIME The sphere motif, a signature element of Buccellati, has long defined the Maison’s jewelry and silverware. For this collection, Andrea Buccellati has reinterpreted the motif, giving it a fresh expression while staying true to the Maison’s tradition of starting every creation from original sketches. One of the most remarkable expressions of this motif is the Cratere delle Muse of 1981, recognized as one of Gianmaria Buccellati’s most significant works. Part of the Oggetti Preziosi collection, conceived to celebrate the great goldsmithing tradition and engage in dialogue with the masters of the past, this cup, crafted in silver, gold, Jades, and Sapphires, represents a truly unique piece and remains a defining reference in the Maison’s creative legacy. Today, this refined craftsmanship is applied across a wide range of tableware objects, including a complete set of flatware, trays, bowls, plates, ice buckets, caviarsets, Murano glassware, and flutes. Presented for Milano Design Week, the collection reaffirms Buccellati’s mastery of the art of the table, combining timeless style with enduring craftsmanship. The Caviar collection thus stands as a symbol of the Maison’s enduring commitment to both design and artistry.