Lot Essay
The delicate Mimosa flower, from the Acacia family, was originally a southern species, introduced from Australia to Europe in 1820. However, in 1946, the canary yellow pom-pom blooms were popularised first in Rome, and then throughout the whole of Italy, as an emblem for International Women's Day on the 8th of March. The bright yellow colour was chosen to symbolise vitality and joy, a progression from the end of winter into the beginning of spring, while the delicate appearance fronted a strong and resilient nature. Traditionally, men have offered a sprig of Mimosa each year to women as a sign of respect, and it was this that inspired della Valle to create this feminine, yet strong, diamond-set spray. Remembering the bunch of Mimosa he would give to his mother each year since childhood, he was inspired "technically to reproduce the softness of this flower", choosing to set yellow diamonds upside-down on each flowerhead to recreate the texture of the petals.