Paolo Penko

Master Goldsmith

Paolo Penko is Florence’s most renowned goldsmith. As a native of the city, it has been his greatest muse: its history, its art, its architecture. For more than thirty years, Paolo has devoted his professional career to retracing the footsteps of the grandmasters that preceded him.

By mastering their ancient (and sometimes obscure) techniques and by incorporating their visual vocabulary into his creations, Paolo invites his patrons and customers to join him in an aesthetic conversation that spans centuries, transforming each commission into a customized piece of living Florentine history.

The recipient of countless awards and distinctions, it was perhaps his investiture as an Accademico Onorario (Honrary Scholar) in the acclaimed Accademia delle Arti del Disegno, founded in 1563 by Giorgio Vasari, that positioned Paolo Penko among some of Florence’s most prestigious artists, master artisans, and scholars.

In 2024, the Penko Bottega Orafa even reached Hollywood as Paolo, his wife, Beatrice, and his two sons, Riccardo and Alessandro, took on the enormous task of crafting more than five hundred crosses and rings for the film Conclave, which won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and a nomination for Best Costume Design..