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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Florence, Not recorded · died 1589

Stefano Buonsignori

Partially verified

Cartographer and cosmographer to the Grand Dukes of Tuscany

Life & work

Stefano Buonsignori was an Italian monk belonging to the Olivetan monastic order who rose to prominence as a cartographer.

In 1575, he was invited to serve the Medici family, specifically working for Francesco I. He took over the task of completing the cartographic panels for the Guardaroba in the Palazzo Vecchio after Ignazio Danti was dismissed. His primary professional contribution was the detailed axonometric map of Florence, first etched in 1584.

Following the death of Francesco, Buonsignori continued his official role under the patronage of Grand Duke Ferdinando I.

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.

Training, contributions & innovations

  • He completed twenty-three of the fifty-three cartographic panels located in the Palazzo Vecchio's cloakroom.

Documented works

  • The 1594 edition of his axonometric map of Florence is preserved at the Museo di Firenze com'era.

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 Stefano Buonsignori. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.

Diagram

12345let downstripcleanoilregulateorder of work; never skip letting down the mainspring
Schematic: order of work at the bench. An outline schematic drawn to show the arrangement of the parts discussed here. It is not a dimensioned working drawing and does not depict a particular maker's calibre.

Sources & references

  1. Buonsignori Map, Wikipedia (English), retrieved 2026-11-03 (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
  2. Stefano Bonsignori (cartographer), Wikipedia (English), retrieved 2026-11-03 (text CC BY-SA 4.0)

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.