Madina Visconti di Modrone, founder of Madina Visconti (2014)

For Madina Visconti di Modrone, art together with nature and aesthetic sense have always been an irresistible game. Coming from a family of artists and entrepreneurs in Milan, creativity has always played a crucial role in her life. It is in her childhood memory of an afternoon spent inside a rose garden with evocative scents and shapes that the Milanese artist finds her inspiration to create jewelry inspired by the organic union of natural forms. Inside her Atelier in the heart of Milan, at 13 Via Santa Marta, she brings to light the authentic craftsmanship that has always made us unique in the world. She defines luxury as “having something unique rather than something precious”. And with a modern spirit, she reinterprets the heirloom jewelry in a completely new way.

How was your passion born?

The passion for creativity in all its forms is a family trait. It is something I inherited from my mother Osanna, a designer of interior furniture and handcrafted jewelry. And also from my grandmother, such an exceptional, innovative, eccentric and curious woman who made the uniqueness of art her greatest research. My grandmother was also a great collector of art jewelry and she loved to surround herself with sculptures made specifically for her by her artist friends. I believe that generally passion depends also on how we were educated in beauty, starting from very early childhood. Our eyes have to get used to it and, growing up surrounded by beauty and having spent a lot of time at my mother’s Atelier, it has been natural for me to observe it and recognize it.

Starting from your passion, how was your brand born?

Following the footsteps of the women of my family, I created my first jewel at 12 years old. Later, I joined the jewelry brand founded by my mother, Osanna. Since I was a young girl, I felt the desire to develop my personal artistic identity which today is expressed by my brand that I define as a world. A world made of jewels inspired by the shapes of nature, a world of style with a strong personality. A world where the protagonists are the craftsmen who masterfully make each one of my jewels. Today, both my mother and I search for uniqueness and excellence in our work and I can affirm to represent the youngest generation of a family history of female passion.

What was your training path?

I have always been fond of artistic subjects and, having this inclination, I firstly attended the art school and then I studied art and goldsmithing in London and Milan.

What are the materials and processing methods that characterize your handcrafted production?

My jewelry creation process follows a path to excellence which I share with the best master craftsmen and enamellers in Milan. Everything begins from a drawing but above all from wax.  I love the direct contact of the hand with the material I mould by addition and by subtraction. The technique I prefer is the very ancient lost wax technique. I am strongly fascinated by materials, for which I have true love. I use bronze a lot, which is a material I love both for its texture and color. Due to its particular characteristics, it is normally not widely used in jewelry products, but I do consider it as a precious material because it is alive. It is porous and it reveals its materiality and the sign of human error.  Another feature is the strong correlation between the inspiration for my creations and materials. My creations take inspiration from the world of nature whose perfection is out of human reach, if not through an inevitable sign of error. In my collections from Ramo, to Malva, Panzè, Snake, Ivy and Ali, I am constantly inspired by natural shapes, such as flowers and animals. Moreover, my jewels are in bright shades: by using the enameling technique I love to mix shapes and colors for an eccentric and creative result. I also use high jewelry techniques such as the repoussè technique on precious metals combined with diamonds, for very special projects.

Cherry Malva Ring

What message do you wish to convey through your creations?

My jewelry has a strong personality, but it should not be worn only on special occasions. We wish to convey a life ideal of timeless beauty, to be pursued at any time, in everyday life. Wearing Madina Visconti is a choice made by those who love to enhance themselves, to the point of completely identifying with the story that the jewel tells.

Panzè Headband with Multicolor Enamels

Is there a jewel you are particularly fond of?

The bracelet from Name collection has great value for me, for the story it tells. It all started in 1985, when for the first time, on the birth of a new member of the family, a bracelet of pure gold with the child’s name was given to the newborn. From that moment on, this gesture has become a family tradition and that piece of jewel has acquired an inestimable emotional value for me. It has become a true sentimental jewel. Over time, also customers have been able to recognize its profound value and have requested it more and more. Name bracelet is customizable with the name of whoever wishes to purchase it and has become my personal interpretation of my heirloom jewelry.

Gold Name Cuff, Silver Name Cuff & Bronze Name Cuff

What are the dreams and plans for the future of your brand?

I grew up in the historic Cinque Vie neighborhood, in the heart of Milan and here is where my creative process had to be born. Today, from design through production to sale, everything is concentrated in this area which has seen, for centuries, goldsmiths and blacksmiths working inside their workshops and whose names are still today remembered by the street names. I wish to continue to create my jewels by enhancing this area and its excellence. Starting from this, I will continue to distribute at very selected and niche concept stores and multi-brand stores, as well as our e-commerce. Moreover, my wish for the future is to dedicate myself to the opening of mono-brand stores in Italy and Europe.

Bronze Name Cuff with Green Enamel, Bronze Name Cuff with Cherry Enamel, & Bronze Snake Earrings