Mythical Beauty: Alessio Boschi

Greek and Roman influences have helped shape the intricate creations of this Italian artist.

Alessio Boschi’s education and work experience in Italy and Greece have been a source of strength in creating his jewelry designs, some of which are inspired by mythology and ancient civilizations. The designer, who grew up in Rome, cites his mother’s influence in helping steer him toward the classical education that later permeated his work. “I am fascinated by the period from classical antiquity to the Renaissance, incorporating architecture and history of art, which I have adored since I was young,” Boschi says in a telephone interview from Bangkok, Thailand, where he currently resides. Boschi is well-known around the world for his highly detailed, intricately engineered jewelry designs. Along with Roman and Greek mythology, his inspirations have included natural phenomena such as volcanoes, star explosions, glaciers and sea creatures. Recently, he paid homage to Persian architecture, creating a ring and cufflinks that depict — with the aid of a battery-powered light — the extraordinary way natural light changes color inside Nasir al-Mulk Mosque in Shiraz, Iran.

An enduring passion Boschi has admired jewelry for almost as long as he can remember. At age seven, he recalls, he accompanied his mother to an exhibition about Alexander the Great in Athens, Greece, and was captivated by the antique jewels on display. Following his classical education, Boschi went on to study at the Academy of Costume and Fashion in Rome. He later lived in Greece — where he studied and worked — as well as in France, Hong Kong, Thailand and Australia. Having established his eponymous brand, he chose to settle in Bangkok, not only because it gave him unparalleled access to talented jewelry artisans, but also because it was a good place to source gemstones, his greatest passion. He is also fascinated by the artistry of Fabergé eggs, which influenced him in some of his more elaborately engineered creations.

In love with Narcissus Boschi points to his Narcissus Bridge ring as an example of a finely crafted piece inspired by Greek mythology — in this case, the story of Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. The jewel, which took months to make, is set in 18-karat gold, with white round and tapered diamonds, pear-shaped sapphires, five shades of tsavorite, and a briolette flat quartz to give the impression of shimmering water.  An antique micromosaic pendant depicting the piece’s namesake bridge rises up from inside the ring when you open it, and underneath is a mirror to echo Narcissus’s story.