Officina Bardini: The Art of Wood

From November 22, 2024 to February 24, 2025, the Stefano Bardini Museum in Florence will host the exhibition Officina Bardini: The Art of Wood, a fascinating journey through the wood craft tradition that characterized the workshops led by Stefano Bardini, the so-called “prince of antiquarians,” and his son Ugo between the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century.

The exhibition presents the second project dedicated to the famous antiquarian, following the event organized in 2022 for the centenary of his passing. 

This edition focuses on the craftsmanship and production that made the Bardini workshops famous, true centers of excellence in woodworking and restoration. Here, “stylish objects and furnishings” were created and restored, which fascinated an international commissioning body attracted by the dream of the Italian Renaissance.

On display is a unique selection of original tools, drawings and artifacts from the collections of Palazzo Mozzi Bardini, in dialogue with the civic collections of the Stefano Bardini Museum. Visitors will be able to admire refined wooden inlays, fronts of chests dated between the 16th and 17th centuries, paper patterns, furniture and single elements intended to shape the Renaissance style, as well as the workshops' original workbench, restored for the occasion.A reconstruction of the Bardini woodworking shop will then be presented, as well as the set of tools that belonged to Florentine cabinetmaker Orlando Chiarugi, founder of a workshop still active in wood restoration.

Also participating in the project was the European Restoration Center, whose students, coordinated by Simone Beneforti, restored the Renaissance caisson fronts on display.

Guided tours, for youngs and adults, are held on Saturday afternoons. Information and reservations: ph. +39 055 2768224 - info@musefirenze.it