Museo del Chiodo

Certaldo's Museo del Chiodo preserves the nail collection of carpenter and artist Giancarlo Masini and interprets local craft traditions.

Why it matters

Masini assembled a collection that reflects the hands and trades behind everyday construction. His objects and stories preserve the workshop culture of the Valdelsa and a personal record of the artisan quarter of Certaldo.

What to notice

Nails of varied forms and periods are shown alongside woodworking tools, drawings and stories about carpenters, farriers, coopers and builders. The displays connect the form of each object with the craft and joint for which it was used.

Context and history

Masini was a Certaldo carpenter, artist and storyteller whose workshop was in Certaldo Alto. After his death in 1997, his family donated the collection to the municipality, which installed it in Palazzo Giannozzi. The Chiodo d'Oro prize, established in 1994 in his memory, continues to associate his name with local craft culture.