Marzia Banci, Guidubaldo I da Montefeltro
Brooch, 2023, sterling silver, 750 gold, painted silver, brilliant-cut black and yellow diamonds, w 7 cm × h 7 cm
The brooch for Guidubaldo I, the only son of Federico da Montefeltro and his second wife Battista Sforza, is made up of a square base divided into four sections by four yellow gold arches. Black diamonds are mounted on three of the arches and identify the da Montefeltro dynasty, while yellow diamonds decorate the fourth arch, representing Guidubaldo's wisdom in accepting the union with the Dalla Rovere dynasty by adopting as his heir Francesco Maria I, thus ensuring continuity to the Duchy. In the middle of the brooch, painted on a silver plate, are the eyes
of the duke.
The work features a large silver frame; on the bottom right there are yellow gold elements symbolising the Duke's military ventures; they are engraved so as to be reminiscent of the chain mail usually worn in battle. Guidubaldo is acknowledged as a worthy duke in culture, politics and war.
Marzia Banci, Cesare Borgia
Brooch, 2023, sterling silver, painted silver, w 6.5 cm × h 7 cm
Made in silver scored by vertical and horizontal lines, the square brooch that pays homage to Cesare Borgia features his piercing eyes in the middle, revealing his personality as a ruthless rogue devoted to war, always after power, possessions and glory.
The son of pope Alexander VI, he deceitfully robbed Guidubaldo I of his duchy; the frayed margins of the brooch represent his abuse of the Duchy and his vexations during his short rule.
Marzia Banci, Bas-reliefs of the Ducal Palaces
Brooches, 2023, sterling silver, brick, local stone, w 7 cm × h 6 cm
The brooches are a tribute to the places where the dukes lived during their rule. Their rectangular base is contained within a narrow open frame whose right corner is open. The frame is a ray of light that encloses and illuminates the façade of each ducal palace.
In the middle of each brooch a bas-relief stands on a stone or a mineral: The Ducal Palace of Urbino on brick, the Ducal Palace of Gubbio and the Ducal Palace of Fossombrone on local white stone. The bas-reliefs were cast after careful reconstruction of their wax image.
