Medici Family Treasures

The famous Italian family of aristocrats and politicians, who became legendary not only in their homeland, but throughout the world, left behind a considerable inheritance. In particular, many of the Medici were obsessed with collecting and understood a lot about elegant objects – paintings, utensils and jewelry. The latter will be discussed.

Little remained after the Medici clan died out: they sold something, plundered something, took it for debts or simply hid it from the eyes of the world in private collections. And the more valuable it becomes every golden item associated with a legendary surname.

One of the main treasures of the collection is a gemma pendant with the image of Girolamo Savonarola, the main enemy of the Medici family. It is made of carnelian and set in blackened silver. Pierrot Medici, nicknamed Gout, was collecting a collection of gems – examining them, he began to feel weaker pain in the joints. But, of course, the Medici collection also included gems depicting members of the genus. For example, a cameo on a sink called “Portrait of Cosimo Medici” encrusted with silver and gold, or an agate cameo in a gold frame “Portrait of Lorenzo the Magnificent” by Medici, now stored in the Palazzo Pitti in Florence. Continue reading →