What role does art play in times of crisis? It’s a question Roman jeweller Fabio Salini has asked a lot in recent years, as he seeks to find new purpose after a three-decade career in precious gems and materials. The answer he has arrived at is to auction a large chunk of his archive – 55 unique creations – and donate the proceeds to charity. “If we think of art now, it’s a less urgent thing,” says Salini, “so why don’t we use it to help people?”
Salini began his career in the design rooms at Cartier and Bulgari before launching his own collection in 1999 through Petochi, the historic Italian jewellery house patronised by European nobility. Enraptured by the technological advances that came with the turn of the millennium, he became known for using innovative materials.