THE RESTORATION OF THE MANTA OF THE MADONNA DELLA LETTERA IN THE MESSINA CATHEDRAL AND ITS JEWELLERY. A PRELIMINARY NOTE

This paper reports a preliminary note on the restoration of the Manta of the Madonna della Lettera in the cathedral of Messina, an extraordinary example of the 17th century goldsmith's craft. The resoration of the Manta became necessary due to the appearance of large, visually disfiguring reddish spots over the gold plates. The same plates had also become opaque due to the presence of a deposit ofincompatible products over their surfaces. The restoration project allowed to investigate for the first time the Manta from a material perspective. It was possible to identify the manufacturing techniques used to create this piece, and to establish the exact causes o alteration impacting the variant onstituent elements of the Manta, including the crowns of Mary and of the Child and the jewellery in gold, enamel an precious stones.