Liturgical Objects in the Diocesan Museum of Milan

Here are some photos taken by Nicola de’ Grandi of liturgical objects in the diocesan museum of Milan, which is attached to the basilica of St Eustorgius. We have written about this church on various occasions, especially apropos of the relics of St Peter Martyr, which are in a chapel that forms part of the complex around the church, known as the Portinari chapel. Our thanks as always to Nicola for sharing these with us.

A monstrance in the classic form used in the Ambrosian Rite (and formerly in many other places, especially in the later medieval period); 1750-75, from the basilica of St John the Evangelist in the city of Busto Arsizio. Behind it is seen the reverse side of the processional cross seen two pictures down. 

A morse for a cope, from the basilica of Santa Maria della Passione (St Mary of the Passion) in Milan, 1865, by Giovanni Bellezza (a last name which appropriately means “Beauty”; 1807-76)

A processional cross from the same church, made in Lombardy in the 15th or 16th century; the figure of Christ is a later addition.

An embroidered cover for a Missal, from the basilica of Santa Maria dei Miracoli presso San Celso in Milan, ca. 1580.

An altar frontal from the basilica of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Erba (about 26 miles to the north of Milan); the central section was made in the 17th century, the bands on the sides were added in the 18th. In the central image, the Virgin of the Rosary appears to two Dominican Saints.  

Monstrance from the church of St Bernardin “alle Ossa” in Milan, 1907, by Eugenio Belloso (1847-1927), a student of Giovanni Bellezza.   

A ewer and basin from Santa Maria del Carmine in Milan, 1848.

A pyx from the same church, made in Lombardy, 1913

A ewer and basin from the basilica of Santa Maria dei Miracoli presso San Celso in Milan, by Wenzel Jamnitzer (1508-85), a goldsmith from Nuremberg, ca 1570.

On the left, a chalice from the church of St Stephen in Viggiù, Lombard, 1574; in the middle, a chalice made in Tuscany, 1450-75, from the church of Ss Gervasius and Protasius in Buccinasco; on the right, a chalice from the Sant’Anna a Lentate, Lombard, 1474.

A processional cross from the church of Ss George, Nazarius and Celsus in Bellano, ca. 1500.

Plates from the church of Santa Maria del Carmine; German, 15th or 16th century. These are known as “alms plates” in Italian, which indicates their original function, but these particular examples were made solely for display. On major feast days, they would have been set on the credence on the left side of the church’s sanctuary, as seen in the next photo.

An Ambrosian monstrance from the church of St Francis in Moggio, beginning of the 18th century. 

Three reliquaries from the town of Civate, about 29 miles to the north of Milan: on the left, 6th century, made of silver, from the church of Ss Vitus and Modestus; in the middle, another from the same church and period, made of sandstone; on the right, a work in molded plaster, end of the 11th century, from the church of San Pietro al Monte. 

Two Ambrosian Rite antiphonaries for the Divine Office, from the town of Vendrogno, 1387-8.

A manger set made of painted paper by the Lombard painter Francesco Londonio, ca 1770.