Created for the 44th edition of the Italian Bowl, the new Gionni Colombo Trophy is a one-of-a-kind piece in the Italian American football landscape. The trophy was entirely designed and handcrafted by Bottega Orafa Paolo Penko of Florence, a historic Florentine artisan workshop, using ancient techniques of the Renaissance tradition reinterpreted with a contemporary touch.
The striking sculpture depicts an American football held aloft by a dynamic, sinuous support that evokes the power and motion of the game. Fluid lines spiral upward in an ascending vortex that culminates in the iconic shape of the football — the ultimate goal of every athlete: victory.
The support is adorned with hand-enameled tricolor streaks, echoing the colors of the Italian flag and highlighting the national identity of the event.
The football is crafted using the exclusive penkato technique, a finish that gives the surface a vibrant, luminous, and highly expressive texture. The base is enriched with elements created using the bugnato technique, lending the trophy additional symbolic and architectural strength.
Engraved on the front are:
- GIONNI COLOMBO TROPHY
- XLIV ITALIAN BOWL
- The official logo of the IFL (Italian Football League)
On the back of the trophy, carved by hand, is the inscription:
“For glory, for honour, for ever” — a motto that captures the timeless spirit and energy of the competition.
This trophy is not merely a sports award but an artisanal work of art — a celebration of the history, passion, and excellence of American football in Italy, while also paying tribute to the memory of Gionni Colombo.
