On separating from our father Bernardo, Mum does not want and will never want his money; but her family of origin also, in one way or another, cannot or will not help her (pp. 88-90). Since 1964, she has worked almost continuously, from clerk at the Rinascente to art expert, to the point of becoming manager of Christie’s auction house in Milan in 1977. Finally, with two other partners, she founded ‘Consulenza d’arte’ in 1992, ‘one of the very first companies in this sector born in Italy that carry out exclusively consultancy activities’ As her profile on the company’s website states, there she was “a specialist in modern and 19th century art, (…) a profound connoisseur of ancient and modern jewellery with a diploma as a gemologist from the Gemmological Institute of America. She is also interested in the decorative arts of the 20th century’. A brilliant career, therefore, acquired through years of study and preparation, which has made her a ‘tempered, mature woman, a leader that any company would be proud to have and that any employee can only esteem and follow’, as Edoarda Sanna, known as Dadi, who mentored her at Christie’s, wrote in a letter of 27 November 1981.
But before this tenaciously pursued success, Giorgina had no money, and she had to live. Beautiful and with an elegant figure, she could not fail to be noticed: and an old, faded newspaper page still from 1964 shows her, full-page spread, as a mannequin (this was how catwalk models were eloquently defined in those days). She is wearing a rich and resplendent dress, and the person who finishes ‘adorning’ her is Marquis Emilio Pucci, one of the founders of ‘made in Italy’ fashion and an absolute genius of creativity, who certainly did not choose his models at random.
When this image came to me, I discovered a piece of my mother’s life that I did not yet know, and which I consider not only prestigious, but also moving. She was very young, Giorgina, 24 years old, and had already been a wife, and a mother; and alone to get by. She certainly did not lack grit.
N.B. : ‘her family of origin’ had cut her off. My aunt Diana Theodoli Pallinitold me this after my book was written.
Thanks to:
- Franca and Eugenio Mazza of Albiate for the unpublished photo of Emilio Pucci and my mother.
- Eleonora Sàita for the text of this article.
Web references:
Sito di Consulenza d’arte srl, Milan, About Us.
Pucci di Barsento, Emilio, entry in Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani – Volume 85 (2016).
