Florentine Goblet

A new chalice made for the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

Work created by Master Goldsmith Paolo Penko in collaboration with his sons Alessandro and Riccardo for the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence.

Chalice decorated with ornamental lily and leaf motifs inspired by the marble inlays of the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.

The alternation of the two colours: silver and gilded silver recalls the polychromy of the marble inlays in green and white marble that characterise Florentine cathedrals. The surface of the chalice is worked with the innovative and exclusive “penkato” technique. With this technique, which makes use of the diamond-tipped milling cutter, chisel and burin engraving, the effect that would be obtained if the classic technique of burin engraving were applied is developed in ‘three dimensions’.

Each component of the chalice, the cup, the joint and the base are made of three distinct overlapping layers of silver. The cup and the base of the chalice are embellished with 49 moonstones. Beneath the base is a gilded silver decorative element that faithfully reproduces the rose window on the façade of Florence Cathedral.