For the fourth consecutive year, the Municipality of Florence, the Società San Giovanni Battista di Firenze, the Historical Procession of the Florentine Republic and of Calcio Storico Fiorentino and the Paolo Penko goldsmith’s shop will revive the ancient Florentine tradition of the coronation of Marzocco which, historically it took place four days before St. John’s Day, on June 24th.
It is a short ceremony but of great symbolic and spectacular impact, with the contribution of the Historical Procession of the Florentine Republic, lined up for the occasion in Piazza della Signoria. The ceremony will take place on Sunday 16 June at 11am, with the placing of the crown on the head of the Marzocco statue. At the end of the coronation ceremony there will also be the presentation of the Corona del Marzocco Award.
Already in 1349, a stone Marzocco was placed on the north façade of Palazzo Vecchio which, during the celebrations of the patron saint of Florence, San Giovanni Battista, was solemnly crowned, as if to indicate that only he was allowed to wear a crown in a free city. A unique creation, designed for the occasion, to celebrate the patron saint of Florence.
Precious fretwork, chiselling and burin engravings, enriched with translucent crimson red enamel alternating with white enamel, characterize this masterpiece of goldsmith’s art. Pearls, garnets, crystals of various cuts and shapes and a lapis lazuli were used to “jewel”, in the ancient manner, the crown intended to decorate the head of the Marzocco.
The Corona del Marzocco was created by the Penko goldsmith shop in collaboration with the society of San Giovanni Battista, the Municipality of Florence and with the Historical Parade of the Florentine Republic. The crown, with a diameter of 26 cm, is made of golden brass and consists of an important band 15 cm high. Divided into six orders, it is decorated with the penkato technique, alternating with very fine chiselling and stippling.
It is decorated with five imposing buttoned lilies, finely chiselled on both sides and enamelled in translucent crimson red with precious gold highlights. Each lily is embellished with a faceted red crystal with an “arm of a cross” cut. The lilies alternate with five groups of three drop-shaped baroque pearls, supported by an acanthus leaf element with spirals and volutes; to hold each pearl, a small enamelled element.
In the center of the crown stands the head of Donatello’s Marzocco wearing the Grand Ducal Crown of Cosimo I de’ Medici. Two Burmese rubies are set in his eyes; on its sides there are two Penko logos with a faceted white stone in the center. On the same register as the Marzocco, 19 quadrilobed decorative elements of various shapes are arranged, chiseled and engraved with a burin, and embellished with garnets, pearls, crystals and settings decorated with crimson and white enamel. Below is the motto “Corona port for the worthy homeland so that each Mantegna has freedom”, as reported by the novelist Franco Sacchetti. The motto is engraved in the “Rotunda” font, inspired by the one used by the Florentine humanist Poggio Bracciolini.
Under the Marzocco’s mane is a lapis lazuli cabochon, with the symbol of the Society of St. John the Baptist in the center. On the same band there are 28 penkati settings which alternate six spherical pink pearls with 22 red cabochon stones surrounded by small white enamel decorations. On the back of the crown, Saint John the Baptist, as he is represented on the ancient Florin of Florence from 1252.
Source: Press office
