Auction introduction: Sotheby’s is delighted to be hosting Jewellery Creations by Fabio Salini: a Charity Auction for Art of Wishes, a two-part charity auction of which the proceeds will be donated to Make a Wish UK. Salini’s donation of these works is a ‘response to the exceptional events we have experienced over the last few years, and the invaluable lessons they have taught us; namely, the incredible role of art in times of crisis, and the importance of collaboration and sharing in times of need.’ Initially drawn to geology by a love of gemstones and minerals, Salini ventured into the world of jewellery design, gaining experience at the houses of Cartier and Bulgari. The present selection for sale gives insight into Salini’s creative journey over his twenty-year career. The range of works showcases Salini’s early use of light, delicate materials such as rock crystal in contrast to his contemporaries’ use of big surfaces pavé-set with diamonds. It then demonstrates Salini’s innovative transition to more industrial materials such as carbon fibre and coloured titanium which first features in small details and then overtakes gold to become the protagonist of the masterpieces themselves. Through his work, Salini intends both to present jewellery as an art form in its own right and to defy traditional representations of the feminine as delicate and fragile. Instead, he presents the feminine as bold and dramatic through conceptual, futuristic design.