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Gonfaloniere's Baton

Egidio di Francesco Leggi 1589

Audio description of the artwork

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The precious silver object by Egidio Francesco Leggi dates 1589 and is decorated with the emblems of the Municipality of Prato and those of the Medici family. This valuable mace is exhibited in the section about Prato and its symbols because it is one of the artworks which is representative for the city: it was commissioned by Prato’s civic community, but only after having granted the Grand-duke Ferdinand I de’ Medici’s permission.

Technical information

Author: Egidio di Francesco Leggi
Title: Gonfaloniere's Baton
Date: 1589
Material and technique: Embossed and chiselled silver
Size: 66 cm
Location: Palazzo Pretorio Museum
Ground Floor

The silver mace is characterized by a knops decoration: on the biggest one are the emblems of the Municipality of Prato and that of Medici-Lorena family. The latter is on top and is surmounted by a crown, and its position hints at the power of the Florentine family towards the town of Prato.

This sceptre had specific political and symbolical meanings, during the 16th century it was carried by the mace bearer while parading through the city on the occasion of public civic and religious ceremonies. The mace bearer opened the processions and was followed by the trumpeters and the Eight Priors.

Egidio di Francesco Leggi, from Cortona, since 1588 worked for the Florentine Medici court, creating silverware and important liturgical ornaments. Thanks to his ability, Grand-duke Ferdinand I entrusted him with the responsibility to mould the new mace the Municipality of prato asked for a long time, to replace the oldest one which had a green and red velvet decoration.

This valuable object was stolen during the Second World War and then found in 1980 inside a private Florentine apartment. As it was recognized, it was given back to the Municipality: so, the mace was displayed in the same year on the occasion of the exhibition about Prato and the Medici Family during the 16th century.