Paolo Penko

A Florentine treasure

• Paolo creates jewels and precious objects
• His creations are the result of historical research
• His workshop is situated a few steps from the Duomo

Paolo Penko showed a natural talent for his chosen craft from an early age, 40 years dedicated to his craft he maintains a clear vision in his mind: to design and create original and exclusive jewels expressing the heritage of his hometown, Florence. Born into a family of merchants of “rare, small, precious objects”, Paolo says that he found his way to jewellery making by chance, meeting the right person at the right time when he was just a child struggling to decide which school he should attend. Maybe it was written in the stars, as he soon became the jeweller par excellence in Florence, with two different 'bottegas' creating stunning objects inspired by the incredibly rich history and artistic heritage of the capital of Italian Renaissance.

Interview

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©David Battistella & Bottega Battistella

What is your educational background?

There are no artisans in my family, they used to be merchants of stamps, coins and other rare, small, precious objects. The call came almost by chance: a casual meeting with the world of high jewellery when I was a child.

In what way is your craft linked to the territory?

The history and cultural heritage of Florence have always been an endless source of emotions, and therefore of inspiration for me. Since my beginnings, I let myself be inspired by small architectural details or details of old art pieces that I discover thanks to ongoing historical research.

What was the key to your success?

My passion has always been at the centre of my craft and for 37 years I’ve been following a clear and distinctive path. I found my own way, I did not copy or imitate anyone. I went deeper and deeper in my research, being able to discover new techniques, and I always did my best to improve.

What does well made mean to you?

In my craft, originality of design and beauty of the stones are fundamental pre-requisites. A strong technique and an obsessive care for details are important too, but the secret of “well made” is the artisans’ will to create something beautiful.

Paolo Penko is a master artisan: he began his career in 1985 and he started teaching in 1995

Works

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©All rights reserved

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Where

Experiences

Goldsmith workshop tour in Florence

20 Mins

15 EUR per person