Southern Tablelands Arts has announced that Young Town Hall will host an amazing exhibition as part of its STA Box Gallery.

The exhibition by Cathy Hutton is called Necklaces They Might Have Worn.

"These necklaces created from antique and vintage buttons are my tribute to the magnificent creativity of the sixteenth century Italian Renaissance, as shown in the exquisite fabrics produced in the workshops of Florence and Venice and in the precious buttons designed and handmade by master craftsmen," Cathy said.

"Although for many years I have been making an annual trip to Northern Italy to search out the rare and unusual buttons that can still be found in the local antique markets, I only recently realised that the glass and metal buttons that were the real treasures of my collection would perfectly complement the gorgeous antique fabrics that I had seen in costume museums such as the Museo del Tessuto in Prato and the Museo di Storia del Tessuto e del Costume in Venice.

"I then selected from the many portraits of Renaissance women dressed in their finery and painted by artists such as Titian and Bronzino those that would inspire me to create the necklaces that the women portrayed might have worn with their sumptuous dresses.

"Although the buttons I have used to create these necklaces were made centuries later, they in turn have been inspired by the designs created by the jewellers and goldsmiths of the sixteenth century."

Cathy operates under the name Vintage Caterina and can be contacted about any of these exquisite pieces or to discuss bespoke commissions via email; vintagecaterina@gmail.com.