The Sanctury Lamp

Another exceptional piece , it is grand but has not lost a mood of prayer and is uplifting in more dense in more senses then one . The flying angels add a great deal of excitement to the design . Its creater must have realised that he would have to produce something to "woo" the eye ; there is so much all around it -and yet ,it holds it's own with perfect dignity . This treasure was donated by the Bali Fra Vincenzo Rospigliosi in 1669 . It has , like the silver gates , been spared the ravages of history.

 

Present to Vilhena

This reliquary measuring 43 cm in hight is preserved in the treasure of St. John's and dates to a period before napolian ransatked the treasury .Here we have an important example of fine 18'th centenary artistry . Surmounted by an authentic Maltese cross it can almost be termed a masterpiece as there is little of this quality to compare it with . The subdued flamboyance of this piece leans on baroque inspiration and yet preserves it's delicacy intact . A delightfully silver present to Grand Master de Vilhena by the Inquisitor Monsignor Antonio ruffo , eventually presented to St.John's by de Vilhena in 1726.

 

True cross preseved at St.John's

The obverse and reverse view of the most important relic of the True Cross preserved at St. John's . This might be as late as 17th centuary ; However ,the base is interesting for being in the gothic taste with an enclosed effigy of the dead Christ behind the small columns . Experts have disagreed over the period of froduction of the stem and the padistral.