Symposium 2023: a celebration of Beauty and Excellence in Florence.
A yearly event by SprazzidiBellezza.com in celebration of its invaluable community.
Photos by Ludovica Barone.
On September 30th 2023, in the sublime frame of Palazzo Portinari Salviati in Florence, I organised the first edition of 'Symposium' by Sprazzi Di Bellezza.
A private, intimate, beautiful experience shared with just a few people, with whom I am bonded by the, almost obsessed, desire for living immersed in Beauty and making life a work of art!.
Surrounded by a unique exhibition of works from the Florentine ateliers Cornici Maselli , Mosaici Traversari and Paolo Penko , with a glass in one hand and a 'cantuccio' in the other, wearing their best attire, guests bonded with each other, living an extra-ordinary immersive experience, while strengthening this valuable community.
*The formal invitations were made of handcrafted paper by the artisans of MC Paper.
I realised that with “Symposium” I finally created something that I myself needed the most..
The international partners of Sprazzi di Bellezza [including the U.K., France, USA, Scandinavia and the UAE] have gathered to Florence, joined by a select group of guests; brilliant, genuine individuals, from different but related fields [craftsmanship, antiques, hospitality, universities, cultural institutions, communication and divulgation], lovers, advocates and connoisseurs of Beauty in its most authentic facets. The goal of “Symposium” was to encourage the birth of new synergies, support the dissemination of Beauty and strengthen the infra-cultural network of the craft and heritage world, while living an unprecedented immersive community experience.
A private & sublime location:
the Francesco I Master Suite - Palazzo Portinari Salviati, Florence
The Francesco I De' Medici Suite, located on the “noble floor” of Palazzo Portinari Salviati in Florence, is an ode to exquisitely Florentine Renaissance Beauty and grace.
An exceptional location, giving guests an unprecedented cultural experience: living an iconic place that has belonged to the most relevant history and tradition of Florence.
Palazzo Portinari was the prestigious 15th century Renaissance residence that was the home of Beatrice Portinari, Dante's muse, and the first residence of Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany.
The Suite offered a private salon, whose original furnishings, from the wooden ceiling, the flooring, the frescoes, to the large windows, brilliantly recovered from Palazzo Portinari, provided the setting for conversations, speeches and the birth of new synergies between connoisseurs and lovers of the beautiful and well-made.
Making this space even more precious were masterpieces from three of Florence's best-known artisan ateliers, guardians of the most precious Florentine artistic heritage.
These invaluable masterpieces were not exhibited behind a display case, yet placed in a more realistic context: on bedside tables, between shelves, on desks. I wanted the guests to observe them up close, touch them, feel them and perceive how these objects, representants of a collective heritage, were made to enrich our ordinary life and not a museum’s shelf.
CORNICI MASELLI:
framing Florence since 1955
The entire Maselli family was there: Gabriele [also awarded the title MAM - Maestro d'Arte e Mestiere - by Fondazione Cologni], Giulia and their sons Tommaso and Giovanni.
Under the roof of Bottega Maselli three generations of frame builders carry on an historical artisanal tradition of woodcrafting; their exquisite and unique manual savoir-faire shapes precious frames for Florentine and international masterpieces. They are also the reference point for the restoration of historical frames and paintings of unspeakable value.
It takes decades to master the technique and weeks to create one single piece, destined to be timeless. It is for this reason that Gabriele commits himself every day to educate his young sons and teach them not only a technique, but a savoir-fare, a sensitivity, of which they will be guardians.
In particular, I look at Tommaso and Giovanni and see two young men with a brilliant mind, a fervent passion for their heritage, a gentle soul and an impeccable education; I look at them and feel the certainty that the future of craftsmanship, as a vehicle of values, culture and excellence, is in good hands with them!
MOSAICI TRAVERSARI:
one family, three mosaics techniques.
The micro-mosaic decorated slippers crafted by the Traversari Family for Dolce & Gabbana were placed at the foot of the bed in the Francesco I Suite and were much loved by the guests!
Micro-mosaic is a technique of millimetric precision; the design is created by the interlocking of tiny strips of Murano glass, one by one and by hand; it is no coincidence that this technique is amazingly applied to jewellery, but also to large paintings!
The Traversari brothers are the 4th generation of master mosaicists and are the only family to master all three mosaic techniques: the beautiful Florentine 'commesso', executed with irregular portions of natural stones, the classic decorative mosaic and the micromosaic.
Some of their masterpieces were framed by the Maselli family themselves, with whom they share a lifelong friendship!
Ps: the precious little bird you see in the gallery, made in Florentine commesso, found a new home that very evening thanks to a lucky ‘Symposium’ guest who could not resist it!
PAOLO PENKO:
the three symbols of power of Cosimo I de’ Medici.
Holding the Grand Ducal crown of Cosimo I de'Medici, an artefact of inestimable historical, artistic and cultural value, was one of those experiences I could never have foreseen or dreamt of..
..and yet here it is, on display at my event, together with the other two symbols of the power of Cosimo I de' Medici: the sceptre and the Golden cloak chain; masterpieces executed on the basis of complex philological research and thanks to extremely high technical skill, after a meticulous work on the written and iconographic sources.
These three pieces of immense historical value had previously only been exhibited in the Palazzo Vecchio, and at Symposium guests were able to appreciate them as they never could otherwise.
The three symbols of Cosimo I's power come full circle within the very rooms of Palazzo Portinari, where Cosimo I himself lived five centuries ago!
Paolo Penko and his two sons, Riccardo and Alessandro, are guardians of three precious pieces. Their goldsmithing techniques draw inspiration directly from ancient archives, which allows them to faithfully reproduce lost masterpieces according to the meticulous techniques of the time.
I asked everyone to wear their best dress [Dress Code: Reinessance Reminiscences] , without hesitation, without doubts; I wanted everyone's identity to reveal itself with confidence and tell as many stories as possible!
An ode to well-made and consistency in detail. The outfit chosen for this occasion is the result of a further combination of Excellences: a precious archive dress handcrafted by Antonella Rossi Atelier, unique earrings from the collection of Roman goldsmith Rossella Ugolini and the most exquisite pendant, inspired by one of Botticelli’s Graces, by Paolo Penko.
The exquisitely Renaissance-inspired hairstyle and make-up were created by the Eleonora Gentile Firenze Salon, a further Excellence to close the circle.
[CLICK HERE TO DISCOVER THE ARTISAN REALITIES BEHIND THE OUTFIT I CHOSE]
The sweetest twist:
Leonardo Firenze’s artisanal cantucci
Once you have tried Leonardo Firenze's cantucci, you can hardly go back! I myself have been a customer of their family-owned bakery for years and couldn't help but involve them in this riot of Excellences!
Following an aperitif in Suite offered by Palazzo Portinari Salviati, an assortment of cantucci in every flavour was served, to the delight of our palates!
Leonardo Firenze, with a recently opened boutique in Via Porta Rossa 14, is known in particular for its ‘cantucci’, made according to Leonardo's meticulously preserved recipes. His son, Marco, has experimented and innovated with flavours, proposing new and mouth-watering combinations, including chocolate and orange and white chocolate!
All guests received a complimentary mix of handmade cantucci from Leonardo Firenze as a gift!
(Re)live the experience through the photo gallery..
A special thanks goes to the three exhibitors, whose precious work every day contributes to the maintenance and preservation of invaluable Florentine traditions, as they play the fundamental role of guardians of our collective heritage: Cornici Maselli, Mosaici Traversari and Paolo Penko.
“Symposium” was held under the valuable patronage of the Fondazione Cologni dei Mestieri d'arte, founded with the aim of preserving, supporting and divulgating the significance of artistic and cultural heritage in Italy, and with the invaluable support and participation of Leonardo Firenze and Palazzo Portinari Salviati, who gave my guests an exceptional experience.
