Paolo Penko, Master of Goldsmith Art, is a designer and sculptor of the Florentine goldsmith tradition. His hometown, Florence, is the primary source of inspiration for his creations that refer to the masterpieces of Florentine Renaissance architecture.
He has created sacred works for the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence and those for the Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in Florence in November 2016. Some of his most significant works have become part of the collections of the Bargello Museum and the Silver Museum of Palazzo Pitti.
Among the various processing techniques used by the Penko artisan workshop, we recall the technique of the rusticated which draws inspiration from the homonymous masonry work used for the decoration of the facades of some Florentine historic buildings such as the Medici Riccardi Palace or the Pitti Palace, the art of metal fusion in cuttlefish bone, the technique of the ‘cesoro’ which is inspired by a hammering process developed by the ancient Mediterranean peoples used to create the famous ‘cesoro necklaces’.
In 2008, an innovative goldsmith technique, known as the ‘penkato’, was added, which makes use of the diamond-tipped milling cutter, the chasing and the burin engraving to obtain a three-dimensional effect, typical of the classic burin engraving. Unique jewelry that are true works of art.
Guided tour of the Paolo Penko Goldsmith’s Workshop: live a truly Florentine experience!
This fascinating guided tour of the Paolo Penko Goldsmith’s Workshop will lead you to discover the processing stages of a jewel where elegance and tradition are combined with research and innovation. You will closely observe precious openwork, accurate engravings and chiseling that draw inspiration from the painting, sculpture and architecture of the Florentine Renaissance.
Workshops (variable tyoes and duration)
You will have the opportunity to choose your workshop from the three types that the Paolo Penko Goldsmith’s Workshop offers to its visitors
- History of the Florentine Fiorino with the minting of the metal coin, in the same way it was made in 1252. At the end, you can take home the coin you have made.
- Description of the processing phases of a Florentine jewel with the history of the Florentine Fiorino. At the end of the workshop, you will be given the reproduction of the Florentine Fiorino in gilded alloy accompanied by the history of the coin.
- Description of the processing phases of a Florentine jewel with the history of the Florentine Fiorino and a visit to the Medici Mint (Crown, scepter and Golden Fleece of Grand Duke Cosimo I of the Medici). You will be given the reproduction of the Florentine Fiorino in gilded alloy accompanied by the history of the coin and the opportunity to have your photo taken with the Medici Scepter.
