Marina B
Éléphant noir (a bag, meant for evening wear)
circa 1978
(yellow and black gold, diamond and pearl)
A late modern, even contemporary, objet d’art that is one half of a rare pair made by this designer. Though its sibling models a slightly different armour of jewels and has an ivory rather than black gold body, the two animals nevertheless epitomise an equal sense of playful elegance. This golden elephant, considerably lighter and smaller than its live counterpart, is meant to look pudgy and infant-like. Its great big four-melded-into-one foot intensifies its overall bubble-shaped silhouette, while at the same time making it seem oddly sturdy and solid for such a little balloon. Its shape is meant to not only echo that of the real thing but also that of one’s palm or underarm - a nook that is soft and secure and meant to protect. While it serves the role as a rather overt but small storage barrel, in turn this elephant requires as safe a place as that which it provides so that it may be treated, as surely intended, as a precious and vulnerable real baby animal.
Pieces designed by the gifted Marina B, granddaughter of the esteemed Sottiro Bulgari, have an ever-present affinity with her love of nature. Her collections over the years share with each other consistent canons of shape, regardless of size or proportion, and application of detail - both of which illustrate the clear affection Marina B aesthetically imprints into each of her miniature creatures as if they were pets of her own, as well as her loyalty to an uncluttered étiquette of design. Though its original tortoiseshell body has since been removed due to animal rights, this sophisticated elephant stands strongly within Marina B's iconic œuvre, with perhaps its Mabé pearl ‘rattle’ being the best of all.
