About

Fulco Santostefano della Cerda, Duke of Verdura was born to an aristocratic Sicilian family in 1898. He enjoyed a vibrant childhood with his older sister at their countryside Palermo home, Vissa Niscemi. Every detail of these extraordinary surroundings, from the rich Chinese silk wall linings to the lush gardens and a menagerie of exotic pets, inspired Verdura’s designs throughout his career.

In the 1920s, Palermo became a popular destination for the American and European beau monde. Among this illustrious crowd were Linda and Cole porter, who became lifelong friends of Fulco. One evening at a party hosted by the Porters in Venice, Linda introduced the young bon vivant to Coco Chanel. Already at height of her fame. It was an introduction that would forever change his life.

Chanel hired him as a textile designer, and it did not take long for her to become impressed with his eccentric taste and modern sensibilities. At this time, Chanel received an abundance of jewelry from her admirers, each piece very different from her own aesthetic sensibility. Chanel and Fulco shared not only a fascination with jewelry, but also a rebellious creative vision. Recognizing his genius for the whimsical and innovative, Chanel elevated Fulco to head designer, in charge of creating her private and boutique jewelry collections.

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