A GOLD NECKLACE, BY MARIO BUCCELLATI, CIRCA 1960 Composed of yellow and white gold beads in lustrous Rigato ground, in 18K gold, signed M. Buccellati, Italian assay mark, with maker's case, length 49cm Born in 1891, Mario Buccellatti, began his career in the world of Jewellery as an apprentice before opening his first boutique on Largo Santa Margherita in Milan in 1919. The brand has grown considerably since the early 20th century with additional locations opening in Rome, Florence, and New York. The Buccellatti family have remained a key part of the brand's development with Mario's grandsons actively involved in the present-day company. The brand is known for its timeless aesthetic and highly refined craftmanship, creating distinct designs in gold and silver, often based on naturalistic motifs. Engraving is a key element of Buccellati's style which can be roughly defined by five categories: rigato, telato, segrinato, ornato and modellato. The first three are all based around the arrangement of the lines, from finely engraved parallel lines to cross-hatched to overlapping in many directions. The ornato, is based on motifs from natural world while the modellato incorporates the more complex design technique to produce incredibly delicate three-dimensional pieces.