Anaconda

Anaconda was founded on the 24th of September 1980 in Milan, at n. 7 of via Bergamini, close to Piazza del Duomo.
At first, it was something of a “concept store” (back then, more romantically defined as “bazaar”), displaying all the items designed by Monica Rossi – from simple silver jewels to unique dresses, made from beautiful fabrics imported from India – and the objects she collected during her trips.
Her love for goldsmithing and experimenting with different materials led Monica to choose jewels as her unique way of expression. She started with silver jewels, trying every technique out, including embossing. Later on, she introduced stoneware, porcelain, texture elements, silk, tye & dye and other dyeing techniques, always on a silver base. Gradually, she started producing more traditional pieces, using pink gold and, later on, 19k white gold. She only used gemstones specifically tailored to the finished jewel, with no pre-cuts, except for the rose-cut diamonds.
Anaconda gained immediate popularity for its aesthetics, essential but natural, genuine and timeless, never forced towards intellectual designs. An extremely balanced ‘less is more’, full of tenderness and softened hues.

In the 90s Monica discovered carving and fretwork.
Her personal research on those techniques had a great success both in Italy and abroad, and went as far as to conquer the American market, enchanted by the beauty of that working on simple shapes, easy to wear and suitable even for the young ones.
Another distinctive feature of Anaconda’s work was the pursuit, both for metals and gemstones, of refined colours, which were never showy, even when used in an extreme way.
Monica is very sensitive about colours, which truly fascinate her.
When colours take over, metal becomes almost invisible.
On the contrary, when the main focus is on metal, all the attention goes to shapes, incisions or surface finishing.

For a long time, Anaconda has presented two collections every year, always related to new topics.
In 2009, Monica started producing more and more one of a kind pieces, with gemstones that have no equal, consolidating her idea of jewels tailored to the customer’s needs.
Committed to the concept of “maison”, Anaconda allows its customers to ask for the remake of a jewel produced years before. Maybe, this is the reason why people say that Anaconda’s jewels seem to be born with them and for them. Yet, this is also because in every piece there is an astounding sense of measure, harmony and spontaneity, and a great care in producing simple, essential shapes that are a pleasure to live with for a long time.

Monica

I was born in Milan on August the 16th, 1957.
My father was a music editor and record producer, my uncle a composer, and my grandmother a milliner with an atelier in the renowned via Montenapoleone, in Milan.
An interesting family, gifted but irksome, which I left when I was still very young, dropping out of school and doing all sort of jobs while travelling, because I wanted to see and understand the world around me.

I have a passion for animals, human beings, nature, life, and sheer, simple love.
I love music, dance, painting and almost all forms of art, which are the source of inspiration for my jewels. All these expressions of art have an educational and therapeutic effect; they bring me a deep joy, as does nature under other aspects. I believe that there are invisible threads, deep similarities that connect one person to another and are expressed through their artistic work. This proved especially true to me when I had the opportunity to meet the artists whose work I really liked.

I’d say that the key of my personality is the constant pursuit of HARMONY, which I consider essential both aesthetically and spiritually.
I think I have chosen jewels due to my nomadic spirit (as I never knew where to stay, to stop...), because jewels are something you wear and carry with you anywhere. As a shawl, a song, a dance.
I got caught in this 35 years lasting love because it is such a rich universe, full of techniques, beautiful gemstones, thousands of colours and textures... a real magic, of which I never have enough.
Another gem, another inspiration, and passion sparks again.
I used to design everything, when I was a girl: dresses I couldn’t find, the sofa I really wanted, and the jewels I wished I had. It came naturally to me, and I have never considered it as art.
To me, a jewel is AS IT IS, nothing more; I immediately see it.
A specific shape reminds me of a colour, a metal, a gem.
Like a song or a landscape, each with a story to tell, I tell my story through my jewels and see it flowing before my eyes.

Everything I know I learnt by myself, thanks to my endless curiosity and enthusiasm, and to a strong imagination I often repair to, as a dreamer who needs to feed her mind.
I still see the world through the eyes of a child, and beauty is to me a constant wonder.
I give utmost importance to essence, to the soul of things and life.
My work has always been influenced by feelings and symbols I care about, and I believe my jewels help people share them.
I like to think I am spreading a message of love among human beings.
Because, after all, a jewel is also a symbol, a way to communicate.