The Art of Bulgari: La Dolce Vita & Beyond 1950-1990 opened this month at the de Young Museum in San Francisco, featuring 150 specially selected jewelry designs that reflect the brand’s defining era. During the 40-year period, the Italian jewelry house forged contemporary designs using a mix of big, bold, colorful gemstones and chunky gold. From the Roman-coin pieces to the snake ones, many of these early themes defined a pivotal period in Italian design.  
In addition to jewelry, the exhibition incl…