If Ali Baba indeed once had a treasure, you would probably find it here at this quite magnificent palazzo in Milan where Bertoni 1949 is showing us their latest collection, with the one distinction that the 40 thieves would not know where to look or what to find because the treasure itself is all that which has as a purpose to hold hold and protect things beautiful: Trunks, bags, cases, boxes, holders, folders, and anything else that can hold something precious, special or personal is on display in the marbled and tapestried galleries here in the Valigeria (a house of suitcases) Bertoni 1949 Varese (from Varese) in Milan on the Via Bigli in the heart of the Montenapoleone district.
A checkered floor in black and white marble through a columned portico welcomes us to introduce the latest autumn / winter heritage collection of trunks and coffres based on the theme of the ‘American dream’. We are entering the house of treasures. On the one side stands an array of trunks in the fashion & style of Jackson Pollock the spotted trunk parchments representing the graffiti-strewn workman’s tables of the house itself – all those many hours of work having left their spots and stains in the same way Pollock left his mark indelible – a workman’s signature and homage all in one. On the other side in classic white we find Navajo motives so recognizable in its simplicity and beauty of form in red and black: These are the ultimate nomad trunks of course – for those who do not travel just for luxury or in style – but also for the sake of adventure.
Yet in this large treasure room of trunks the smallest item is the masterpiece. It’s been the hottest item around in the realm of trunks, cases, and handbags for a while now, only celebrities spotted with it (and to BDMOTP’s knowledge not one single man as of yet), Delphine Arnault probably the first one to have ever carried one in public, and higher in demand than a Gucci baseball cap at discount during Christmas time: The mini-briefcase slash handbag, that locked and buckled petite malle bag as treasure trunk – une minaudière de l‘exception, Bertoni’s all in white, with three black stripes, and a Navajo red cross.
Upstairs, with renaissance tapestries as the backdrop, we find the hand bag & case collections, some structured, some foldable, one bag yet more beautiful and better made than the next. All is hand stitched and marca punto (stich marked), leathers range from croc and alligator to French calf and goat parchment, all is beautiful, all is (very) well made, and all is available – which is a miracle in its own right. These are unisex items and they should be because at this level of quality manufacturing & luxury differences between peoples seem to dissipate and slowly blend into the horizon.
Bertoni 1949: A treasure house of that which treasure may hold!
Posted by Sandro Joo and photos by Paloma Canseco
