Not recorded, Italy · c. 1530–1614
Girolamo della Volpaia
Partially verifiedMaker of clocks and scientific instruments
Life & work
Girolamo della Volpaia was a member of a prominent Tuscan family of engineers and clockmakers, carrying on the business established by his father, Camillo, and his uncles, Benvenuto and Eufrosino.
He succeeded his father as the superintendent of the large clock in the Palazzo Vecchio in 1560. In addition to his professional duties, he restored the planetary clock originally created by his grandfather, Lorenzo. His career included significant engineering commissions, such as the design of a clock for the Piazza San Marco in Venice in 1564.
Girolamo completed his final clock in 1590, which remains preserved at the Museo Galileo in Florence.
The fuller biography summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage. Confirm key dates in period documents before relying on them.
Timeline
Girolamo della Volpaia's recorded dates, dated events from this profile and its sources, and dated pieces and sales from the object catalogue. Dates are as each record gives them.
c. 1530 · Career
Born
1554 · Career
In 1554, he crafted an armillary sphere that is currently held in the Science Museum in London.
1554 · Career
An armillary sphere from 1554 is preserved in the Science Museum in London.
1560 · Career
He succeeded his father as the superintendent of the large clock in the Palazzo Vecchio in 1560.
1564 · Career
His career included significant engineering commissions, such as the design of a clock for the Piazza San Marco in Venice in 1564.
1567 · Catalogued piece
1570 · Catalogued piece
1588 · Catalogued piece
1590 · Career
Girolamo completed his final clock in 1590, which remains preserved at the Museo Galileo in Florence.
1590 · Career
His final clock from 1590 is part of the collection at the Museo Galileo in Florence.
1590 · Catalogued piece
1614 · Career
Died
Training, contributions & innovations
- In 1554, he crafted an armillary sphere that is currently held in the Science Museum in London.
Documented works
- An armillary sphere from 1554 is preserved in the Science Museum in London.
- His final clock from 1590 is part of the collection at the Museo Galileo in Florence.
Collecting significance
The catalogued pieces listed on this page show the kinds of objects auction houses, dealers and museums attribute to this maker; each attribution is the source's own.
Firms, key models & movements
No firm, model or movement in this encyclopedia is yet recorded under this maker's name.
In the object catalogue
5 catalogued objects are recorded under Girolamo della Volpaia. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.
- Horary Quadrant by Girolamo della VolpaiaQuadrant · 1570
- Horizontal Dial by Girolamo della VolpaiaHorizontal sundial · 1576
- Nocturnal and sundial by Girolamo della VolpaiaNocturnal · 1567
- Polyhedral Dial by Girolamo della VolpaiaOther sundial · 1590
- Scaphe Dial by Girolamo della VolpaiaOther sundial · 1588
Provenance
Where the 5 catalogued pieces by Girolamo della Volpaia were recorded, with the collectors, owners and sales their records name.
Provenance map
Each piece is linked to the museum, auction house or dealer whose record it comes from, and to any other house or collection its own provenance names. Select a name to see its pieces.
Museums · 5 pieces
History of Science Museum, Oxford
Museum · 5 pieces · Directory entry
Horary Quadrant by Girolamo della VolpaiaQuadrant · 1570 · Record source
The record names no sale, lot or earlier owner.
Horizontal Dial by Girolamo della VolpaiaHorizontal sundial · 1576 · Record source
The record names no sale, lot or earlier owner.
Nocturnal and sundial by Girolamo della VolpaiaNocturnal · 1567 · Record source
Provenance: Dott. Filiberto Catinari, Fermo
Polyhedral Dial by Girolamo della VolpaiaOther sundial · 1590 · Record source
The record names no sale, lot or earlier owner.
Scaphe Dial by Girolamo della VolpaiaOther sundial · 1588 · Record source
The record names no sale, lot or earlier owner.
Collectors, owners and donors
- Dott. Filiberto Catinari, FermoProvenance · Nocturnal and sundial by Girolamo della Volpaia
Each line is copied from the object's source record and is not independently verified. Holders are as recorded when the piece was catalogued: museum objects may not be on display, and sold lots have since changed hands.
Sources & references
- Girolamo della Volpaia, Wikipedia (English), retrieved 2026-11-03 (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Girolamo (given name), Wikipedia (English), retrieved 2026-11-03 (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.