The City of Sospel and the Alpes-Maritimes Heritage Foundation have signed a partnership agreement enabling the launch of a public subscription for the restoration of the tabernacle of the Sospel Cathedral.
In 2014, the cathedral had already undergone a major restoration campaign for the interior decorations and masonry with the help of the Heritage Foundation.
In this church, there is a marvelous wooden tabernacle made in the 18th century. It is located in the side chapel known as the Pieta. As Stéphane Bern says, “it is a jewel, an incredible work of art, a treasure that emerged from the faith of the artists of the Baroque era.” It is adorned with onyx, gilding, and marquetry scenes in ivory and mother-of-pearl, and is inspired by a Renaissance model.
This piece demonstrates true virtuosity in the cutting of shapes, engraving, expression of faces, the draping of garments, and the elements of the decor.
On all the wooden elements, numerous attacks by woodboring insects can be observed, necessitating treatment.
The motifs of appliqués in carved and gilded wood, made in a fairly soft wood and nailed on the veneered backgrounds, are degraded, with some even missing. Missing onyx columns will need to be replaced.
The rarity of this work justifies launching a comprehensive restoration and enhancement project for the Sospel tabernacle.
This object won the Pèlerin des Médias Grand Prize in 2018 and has been classified as a Historical Monument as an object since 1994.
