Jewelry lovers, this one’s for you. Florence-born and raised artist Ippolita Rostagno founded IPPOLITA back in 1999 after realizing she couldn’t find any fine jewelry that could be worn every day. Rostagno’s background in sculpture lends itself perfectly to jewelry design, and she soon found success with her signature organic silhouettes and sculpted forms that have an unmistakable style. The brand has now expanded to open a Madison Avenue flagship boutique, doubling the square footage of its previous space.
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With a museum-like environment, the new 1,026-square-foot Madison location places the jewelry at the forefront. Rostagno focuses on a direct-to-consumer model, seen through their Milan and Chicago locations, and the Madison boutique will act as a miniature gallery, including a jaw-dropping curated Wunderkammer-inspired wall filled with Ippolita’s personal collection of art and curios. “It’s a very private snapshot of my interior life and that’s what makes it fun. The idea is to elicit curiosity; I want people to ask themselves, ‘What is this collection of objects?’” shares Rostagno. “You can tell that all these things belong together, but it could be enjoyable to explore the history of each piece. From glass sculptures to reliquaries and personal keepsakes, each and every piece on the wall is a treasure. Some of the most precious pieces include glass bones Rostagno blew herself, vibrant coral necklaces and crowns, and bronze figurines. QR codes will allow guests to learn more via the digital gallery on the brand’s website.
“Our goal in New York was to create a space full of curiosity and wonder, a small oasis of pleasure,” says Rostagno. “I wanted this wall to convey my love of raw materials, my love of nature, my fascination with the female form, and my interest in art and collecting. All these passions are reflected in the jewelry.” The boutique’s open-concept selling allows guests to touch and try on the pieces with no glass case barriers holding them back. Experiencing the craftsmanship first-hand allows customers to intimately get to know the jewelry before purchasing. A private viewing room and one-on-one personal styling are also available.
Photography by: Chris Eckert
