lundi 31 octobre 2011

Murano.....more to it than meets the eye!!

10 minutes by boat from Venice is the island of Murano, famous for its glassware - but we found out that it also has other treasures! With my addiction to visit old churches, we simply had to go inside this one and take a look...................


San Pietro Martire is, quite simply, a stunning little treasure. The original church and Dominican monastery, dedicated to St John the Baptist, was built from 1363 and consecrated in 1417. A tablet on the far right of the façade commemorates this. The church then burned down in 1474 but was rebuilt and enlarged, reopening in 1511 and dedicated to St Peter Martyr.

Now wouldn't this gold couronne make the most divine ''ciel de lit" bed canopy - but I thought someone might see me leave with it under my coat!



I also, just for a second, looked at of  those delicious Murano glass chandeliers; wouldn't they just make a magnificent pair of earrings, if only I could get them out!


At one side of the chapel was a small doorway pinned to which was a little paper sign with an arrow pointing towards the vestry advertising a museum of church antiques - and with a 1.50 Euro price tag.   There had been no mention of such a museum outside the chapel (nor in any of the tourist literature we had read prior to our visit) so I was naturally intrigued.

And that was possibly the most wonderful 1.50 Euros  I have ever spent!!  The first room (the vestry itself)  was  breathtaking - all four walls of the room were lined with the most beautifully-carved figures.

But the next floor simply took my breath away. Row upon row of early reliquaries  - some of  the most amazing pieces I have ever seen.


I had to take this photograph for Tartelette; with her addiction to all-things pink, she would have adored these little pink, flame- topped jars with handworked velvet reliquaries tucked inside. All closed with a wax seal too.

I only wanted one. I would have settled for just one...I`m not greedy!!!.. but they must have known I was on my way as they were tucked away behind glass - but how wonderful to see them, along with gorgeous old vestments, religious and crosses.


And these doors too ...I so need them. Both of them please!! Aren't they just wonderful?

 Rooms full of absolute treasures that no-one seemed to want to make any song and dance about! During the twenty or so minutes we spent looking at the treasures, no-one else came into those side rooms! And then we walked back outside to come face to face with the piece everyone was making a fuss about !!!!

Wonderful I know (a Murano glass 'special' in the central square) but, to me, it was not in the same league as those amazing glass jar reliquaries I had just seen.

 

8 commentaires:

  1. Amazing! What's the chances of you finding anything similar to any of those items while brocanting? Slim to none yeh :-)
    Happy Halloween >:-O
    Di
    x

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  2. If only Di!!!! I`ve never seen anything like them before.
    Happy halloween to you too. Quite bizarre its a bank holiday here tomorrow so all quiet!
    xxxxxxxxxxx

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  3. Absolutely fantastic Shirley, love the glass jar reliquaries, absolutely stunning! Happy Halloween to you.
    Jo xx

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  4. Happy Halloween Jo...love the ballet tutu with wings pic on your blog!!
    xx

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  5. We are so going there to pick those up next time.You can wear your velvet coat whilst I cut a hole in the glass.This time it would be tutu for me and none for you(you know you owe me for the ballet costumes my little B)

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  6. Oooo I love that gold crown! Tartelette's comment makes the removal of the handworked velvet reliquaries sound like something out of the da vinci code! In our 12thC church vestry you will find: mice (dead and alive), broken kettle, holy mop (a mop with holes in, not a mop that has been blessed) and a hoover, circa 1975. Well, that's the Church of England for you! :) xx

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  7. Hi Abby
    Nothing would surprise me with Tartlette!!! If its pink and she wants it she won`t give in!! She keeps threatening to meet me in Venice now she has a reason to definitely do it!!
    xxxxxxxx

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  8. Murano Glass,Murano modern lightings like suspension lamps, crystal borosilicate chandeliers, wall lamps, ceiling lamps, lighting systems, sconces, floor lamps and tables.

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