BARI – Ancient symbols but vision Contemporary. They believed in innovation when it was not yet a fashionable word and the bet made about ten years ago proved to be a winning one. Their pumo, an auspicious symbol of the Apulian tradition, has become the jewel chosen as a gift for the great people of the Earth. Reworked in sterling silver, it was delivered to the heads of state and delegation who participated in the works hosted in Savelletri. The pendant that promises prosperity and good luck is the fruit of the creative, artisanal and rigorously made in Italy work of Laura Rampino and Riccardo Laudisa. Their Solara Argenti of Bari was selected by those who deal with all the logistical-organizational activities connected to the Italian G7 events. «We participated in a tender but – explains Laudisa – it was really exciting to receive the PEC from the Presidency of the Council».
Puglia told in a jewel. Did you imagine you could be selected?
«We are proud to have been chosen for institutional gifts. We offered a range of jewels, imagining which, in our opinion, could be right for the occasion. We thought of the pumi because they are a symbol of Puglia and our proposal was liked.”
How was it? Wasn’t a unique design asked for?
«No changes. Perfect like this. We also thought of an original design but the design and creation of an exclusive piece involves a very long process and we preferred not to run the risk of prolonging the time between sketches, studies, proposals and counter-proposals”.
Having combined symbolism, craftsmanship and territory perhaps explains why you were chosen.
«We thought: Puglia equals pumo. We were the first to transform the pumo, like other icons of Bari and Puglia, into the jewel we proposed. Our company is 37 years old and has 97 dealers throughout the region. About ten years ago, we moved from silverware for the home to jewelery to wear and in that identity transition we said to ourselves: why not talk about our territory? The pendants with the three-wheeler were born, with the panzerotto and beer from our wonderful street-food, the lights, the medals with the typical phrases of our dialects (“Mè scià”, “Iapr l’ecchie”, “Da mò vale ”, “Cu tutu lu Core”), without forgetting the curled octopus, which is difficult to explain if you don’t live in this region. At first they looked at us strangely, then we were right.”
Precursors of a model that works very well today.
«In our sector we have always created a lot of innovation. It’s interesting because it allows you to explore new objects, languages, technologies. We think, design and create our collections in Italy, rejecting the bells and whistles of the foreign market even to create the smallest detail, be it a hook or a carabiner.”
Why this confident choice of made in Italy?
«When gold buying became widespread a few years ago, all the metal was purchased from China and costs skyrocketed. In 4 months, silver, which cost 300 euros per kg, reached 1,100 euros per kg. In Italy the silverware market has collapsed and 80% of the workers have been lost, from turners to engravers. The wonderful Italian supply chain has been put in crisis and we want to contribute to recreating that ecosystem.”
The pumo, an amulet, was given to the G7. If you could have put a note, what would have been your good wishes to the Greats of the Earth?
«By participating in the tender we asked ourselves: what can you give to a person who leads a nation? Any gift may also have a material value but it is the meaning, the meaning, the immaterial value of that object that will be most important, which will go beyond gold or our silver. What can you give to a powerful person? The apple is a good luck charm and in their hands, which make a thousand hands spin, we thought we would place a wish: guide us to the place where we can all have greater luck or a better quality of life.”
It’s a bit like the philosophy of your symbols of Puglia. Not just jewels, in short.
«When I give a pendant with a taranta dancer or a typical saying like “Awè!”, I also give a memory, a familiar sound, something you are proud of. We work on a project that touches multiple feelings: from the sense of belonging to a place, to the pleasure of sharing a tradition, to nostalgia for one’s homeland.”
