Elsa Peretti facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elsa Peretti
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| Born | 1 May 1940 |
| Died | 18 March 2021 (aged 80) Sant Martí Vell, Spain
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| Education | Interior designer (degree obtained in Rome, Italy) |
| Occupation | Jewelry designer, philanthropist, and fashion model |
Elsa Peretti (born May 1, 1940 – died March 18, 2021) was a famous Italian jewelry designer. She was also a generous person who gave money to many good causes, known as a philanthropist. Before becoming a designer, she worked as a fashion model.
Elsa Peretti created beautiful jewelry and other designs for Tiffany & Co.. Her work is so important that it's displayed in famous museums. These include the British Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
In 1974, Elsa joined Tiffany's, bringing her fresh, modern jewelry styles. Her designs, like the "Bean," "Bone Cuff," and "Open Heart" pieces, became very popular. They made up a big part of Tiffany's sales. Vogue magazine even called her "arguably the most successful woman ever to work in the jewelry field."
Besides her design work, Elsa Peretti was a big supporter of many charities. She also helped restore the old village of Sant Martí Vell in Catalonia, Spain.
You can see Elsa's story in the TV show Halston. She also appeared in a 2019 documentary film about the designer, also called Halston.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Elsa Peretti was born in Florence, Italy. She was the youngest daughter of Ferdinando Peretti and Maria Luisa Pighini. Her father started a large Italian oil company called Anonima Petroli Italiana (API) in 1933.
Elsa went to school in Rome and Switzerland. She first worked as a French teacher and a ski instructor. This was in a Swiss mountain village called Gstaad. Later, she went back to Rome to study interior design. After that, she worked for an architect in Milan.
Elsa Peretti's Career
Becoming a Fashion Model
In 1964, Elsa Peretti started her career as a fashion model. She worked in Barcelona, Spain. In 1968, she moved to New York City.
In the early 1970s, she became one of designer Halston's favorite models. They were known as the "Halstonettes." Elsa was also often seen at the famous nightclub Studio 54. She spent time there with Halston and other famous people like Andy Warhol and Liza Minnelli.
Designing Jewelry
In 1969, Elsa Peretti began making jewelry for fashion designers in Manhattan. Her very first design was a small, two-inch bud vase. It was made of silver and worn as a necklace. She got the idea from something she found at a flea market. This design was a big hit when it was shown on a runway.
By 1971, she was designing jewelry for Halston. She often used silver, which helped make it a popular material for fine jewelry. Even famous people like Liza Minnelli loved her silver pieces.
Elsa quickly became well-known in the jewelry world. In 1971, she won an award for her jewelry designs. In 1972, the department store Bloomingdale's opened a special section just for her designs.
In 1974, she signed a contract with Tiffany & Co.. She designed silver jewelry for them. This was important because Tiffany's hadn't sold silver jewelry in 25 years. Her silver pieces were seen as "fun" and attracted younger customers. This made fine jewelry more affordable and popular for women to buy for themselves.
Elsa Peretti created over thirty collections for Tiffany. Her designs are called "revolutionary" and "timeless." She traveled to places like Japan and China for inspiration. Her successful collections include "Bean," "Open Heart," "Mesh," and "Bone." She used materials like sterling silver, jade, and lacquer. Modern art also influenced her. For example, her "Open Heart" collection was inspired by sculptures by Alexander Calder.
Her "Bone Cuff" design (from 1970) was inspired by bones she saw in a church as a child. This design is still very popular today. Actresses like Gal Gadot and Sarah Jessica Parker have worn it in movies.
Elsa's designs were sold at many different prices. Some necklaces were hundreds of dollars, while others were thousands. In 2012, Tiffany and Elsa extended their contract for another 20 years. Her designs made up a large part of Tiffany's sales.
Elsa also designed silverware for Tiffany's. Her creations were wide-ranging. She designed pens, ashtrays, and even perfume bottles for Halston. But her jewelry line remained the most important part of her work.
Restoring a Village in Spain
In 1968, Elsa Peretti bought a house in a small village in Spain called Sant Martí Vell. The village was quite old and run-down. Over the next ten years, she worked to restore her house. By the 1980s, this yellow house became her favorite home. Some of her jewelry, like a scorpion necklace now in the British Museum, was inspired by the plants and animals of Sant Martí Vell.
Elsa worked to restore other parts of the village too. She bought more buildings and had them fixed up. By 2017, about half of the village had been rebuilt. She helped renovate the local church, Església de Sant Martí Vell, between 2012 and 2013. This work included digging up old Roman remains and restoring historical parts of the church.
Elsa also supported the care of old documents and photographs from the town. She even started a vineyard in Sant Martí, planting grapes in 2004 and 2007. The winery was finished in 2008.
She also supported the visual arts and the history of Catalonia. In 2013, Elsa Peretti was the first person who was not from Catalonia to receive the National Culture Award. This award is given to people who make great contributions to culture.
Helping Others: Philanthropy
In 2000, Elsa Peretti started a charity called the Nando Peretti Foundation (NPF). She named it after her father. This foundation has given millions of euros to hundreds of projects around the world. In 2015, it was renamed the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation (NaEPF).
The foundation first focused on protecting the environment and wildlife. It also helped people in need, especially those living in poverty. Over time, the foundation started supporting many more projects. These include promoting human rights, especially for children and women. The NaEPF helps groups that are not often heard, to protect their rights and cultures. It also supports medical research and helps build hospitals.
Personal Life
Elsa Peretti passed away at her home in Spain on March 18, 2021. She was 80 years old. She died peacefully in her sleep.
Awards and Recognition
Awards for Design
- 1971: American Fashion Critics Coty Award for her jewelry.
- 1981: President's Fellow award from the Rhode Island School of Design.
- 1996: Council of Fashion Designers of America's Accessories Designer of the Year.
- 2013: The National Prize of Culture by the Catalan Government.
Special Honors
- She received high honors from Italy and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
- Elsa Peretti Professorship In Jewelry Design: In 2001, Tiffany & Co. created a special fund to support teaching in jewelry design. This was for the 25th anniversary of their work with Elsa. It helps the Jewelry Design Department at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).
Museum Collections
Elsa Peretti's designs are so important that they are part of permanent collections in several museums:
- British Museum in London, England.
- Indianapolis Museum of Art in Indiana, USA.
- Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in Massachusetts, USA.
- Museum of Fine Arts, Houston in Texas, USA.
Exhibitions of Her Work
- 1990: "Fifteen of My Fifty with Tiffany" at the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York.
- 2001: A special show of her work was held at Tiffany's stores around the world.
Images for kids
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Elsa Peretti's bowl with a lid and tray, made of sterling silver for Tiffany & Co., 1984.
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Elsa Peretti's sterling bowl with gold wash, designed for Tiffany & Co.
See also
