Buccellati and the art of the table

From 4 to 8 November, Buccellati returns to Downtown Design Dubai for its second participation in the fair, presenting Aquae Mirabiles at stand C2, Dubai Design District (d3). The immersive project explores the relationship between nature, artistic imagination and Italian goldsmithing tradition. Following its debut at Milan Design Week 2026 and subsequent presentation in Paris, the installation arrives in Dubai with a 97-square-metre exhibition space conceived by Balich Wonder Studio, curated by Federica Sala and developed in creative collaboration with British artist and designer Luke Edward Hall.

The experience unfolds as a contemporary nymphaeum, an imagined underwater world where silver, light and colour evoke a realm suspended between history and fantasy. Two silver sturgeon sculptures from the Marina collection welcome visitors, introducing the aquatic theme. The journey then leads to the centrepiece of the installation: a sumptuous, submerged banquet arranged around a wave-shaped table displaying creations from the Caviar collection. Watercolour illustrations by Luke Edward Hall bring the surrounding walls to life, weaving together allegorical figures and historical references to the often-overlooked heritage of Italian caviar, from ancient Rome and papal cookbooks to Renaissance paintings and the banquet designed by Leonardo da Vinci for the wedding of Ludovico il Moro and Beatrice d’Este.

At the heart of the presentation is the Caviar collection, one of the most distinctive expressions of Buccellati’s creative identity. Its signature microsphere motif reinterpreted three-dimensionally by Andrea Buccellati, recalls the shape and texture of sturgeon roe. Composed of tiny silver spheres, the surface captures and reflects light, enhancing the richness and tactile qualities of the metal. The motif has an important precedent in the Cratere delle Muse, created by Gianmaria Buccellati in 1981, where silver, gold, jade and sapphires come together in a celebration of traditional goldsmithing and decorative arts.

In Dubai, the collection is presented through an extensive selection of tableware, including caviar spoons, trays, plates, ice buckets, bowls and flatware, alongside Murano glassware and flutes. The showcase is complemented by a curated selection of fine jewellery, featuring pieces from the Macri, Torsadé, Muse and Mosaico collections. With Aquae Mirabiles, Buccellati transforms the art of the table into a cultural and sensory narrative, bringing together exceptional craftsmanship and the evocative power of art and imagination.