Buccellati renews its collaboration with Paris-based designer Chahan Minassian, who has conceived a new destination within the Maison’s historic flagship at Via Montenapoleone 23 in Milan: an intimate Caviar Bar overlooking the courtyard of Palazzo Gavazzi. The project follows Minassian’s transformation of the Piano Nobile in 2024, further enriching the evolving experience of the Milanese flagship.
The new space draws inspiration from one of the most emblematic expressions of Buccellati’s Art de la Table universe: the Caviar collection, distinguished by its signature micro-beaded motif and the exceptional silversmithing craftsmanship that defines its identity. With the Caviar Bar, the collection’s visual and material language is translated into an immersive hospitality environment dedicated to gathering, conversation and the art of entertaining. Reserved for the Maison’s clients and guests, the Caviar Bar occupies a double-height volume overlooking the courtyard and unfolds across two levels. Visitors enter through a gallery that recalls the ceremonial sequences of nineteenth-century Milanese palazzi, leading into a space conceived for conversation, conviviality and private hospitality. A glazed mezzanine overlooks the main salon, creating a visual dialogue between the two levels while emphasizing the dramatic verticality of the architecture. Lounge seating, bistro tables and a central bar have been arranged to foster both intimacy and sociability.
The defining gesture of the project lies in its vaulted surfaces, entirely clad in bespoke mirrored panels rendered in nuanced tones of copper, silver and smoky grey. Reflective yet unexpectedly warm, these surfaces capture and refract light, expanding perspectives and lending the interiors a sophisticated sense of theatricality. A palette of silvery greys, taupe tones, bronze accents and golden reflections extends the material language first introduced in the Piano Nobile, while subtly evoking Buccellati’s world of high jewellery and silverware. Velvets, Fortuny fabrics, richly textured leathers and custom rugs introduce tactile warmth, creating an atmosphere that is at once refined, welcoming and deeply residential. As with the Piano Nobile project, every furnishing element has been custom designed by Minassian. Vintage pieces, including Murano glass chandeliers, coexist with sculptural forms and bespoke furniture created specifically for the space, establishing a carefully balanced dialogue between the historic architecture of Palazzo Gavazzi and a contemporary design vocabulary.
Through a series of carefully orchestrated interventions, Minassian has crafted a cohesive spatial narrative for Buccellati, one in which the Maison’s heritage is expressed through architecture, craftsmanship and the art of living. “Maintaining a residential spirit was essential”, says Chahan Minassian. “The objective was to create an interior that felt welcoming and lived -in while preserving the architectural grandeur of Palazzo Gavazzi. The mirrors introduce light, movement and depth, while the materials, textiles and Murano glass bring warmth and intimacy. “
Following the transformation of the Piano Nobile, the Caviar Bar marks a new chapter in the evolution of Palazzo Gavazzi, further expanding its role as a place of hospitality, culture and experience. Within this setting, Buccellati’s Art de la Table universe is no longer simply displayed but fully inhabited. The Caviar collection, alongside the Maison’s celebrated silverware creations – from the collections developed with Ginori to the colourful Murano Collection, the whimsical Furry Animals and a selection of decorative objects that enrich each table setting –becomes an integral part of the hospitality experience itself. The Caviar Bar evokes the atmosphere of an elegant Milanese residence, where craftsmanship, culture and hospitality converge in a seamless expression of the Buccellati world.
BUCCELLATI
Buccellati is a renowned high-jewelry and silverware Maison, admired for its craftmanship and the uniqueness of its creations. Distinctive is the use of rare stones with extraordinary colors, mixed with white and yellow gold, all nicely carved like laces. Today, the Buccellati jewels stand out for their design and for the techniques used to create them, such as the hand-engraving technique, dating back to the ancient goldsmithing traditions of the Italian “bottega” during the Renaissance times. The shapes of the collections are all inspired the historical archive drawings and by the very first creations of the founder, Mario Buccellati. Today, the Maison is 100% owned by Richemont, but the Buccellati family is still present in the company with top level managerial functions. Buccellati boutiques are present in the most important cities and in the most prestigious Malls of the world.
