Tiffany Reimagines Bird on a Rock as Fine Jewellery
An icon takes flight once again.
Be it a poet or painter, almost every artist has at one time turned to the natural world for creative inspiration. Nature is a popular muse, and it’s been a part of the Tiffany & Co. legacy since the 19th century. However, it wasn’t until the 1960s that visionary designer Jean Schlumberger’s passion for flora and fauna (specifically his fascination with the rare birds he spotted while on vacation in the Caribbean) would inspire what has since become one of the house’s most iconic designs: Bird on a Rock.
Though this whimsical figure—a cockatoo perched atop the famed 128.54-carat yellow Tiffany Diamond—is revered as an emblem of high jewellery, Tiffany’s chief artistic officer Nathalie Verdeille sought to reinterpret and expand the collection with stackable fine jewellery. Featuring in the recent release are abstract interpretations of the motif (such as platinum bangles of diamond-studded wings and other feathered forms) in addition to sculptural pieces with a more naturalist take (for example, two lovebirds alighting on a golden chain or the cockatoo poised on an egg of turquoise stone).
Each piece is a dynamic celebration of Tiffany & Co.’s beloved avian motif. The heritage pieces have never gone out of style, with celebrities like Michael B. Jordan and Jay-Z sporting diamond plumage at red-carpet events in recent years. Still, the house has an intuitive sense of contemporary interest, and the collection’s release is well timed. Whether due to concern over threatened avian populations or the proliferation of savvy identification tools like Cornell’s Merlin Bird ID, bird watching is a more fashionable pastime than ever.
The relationship between bird and man, much like Tiffany’s approach to craftsmanship, is one that requires patience and quiet dedication. As Schlumberger did decades ago, Verdeille observed and studied the anatomy, stances, and patterns of the species. Her designs were then passed off to several master artisans, who work together with a palette of precious metals and gems to create each piece over the course of 50 hours. The result is an exquisite collection of rare birds that seem to perch upon the wrist, finger, and decolletage of each wearer.
