An engraving dating from the 18th century has been found in a reliquary belonging to the Parish of Alcala de Xivert
![[Img #38278]](upload/img/periodico/img_38278.jpg)
For some months, the Castellón Provincial Diputación has been working with the Alcala de Xivert-Alcossebre Council and with the town’s parish church, to restore several pieces in the church’s museum collection.
Among the pieces, an engraving was discovered which has been described as “extraordinary” and it will be on display soon. The teak hid the image of a Virgin with the Child Jesus in bright colours.
The Ivacor specialist departments have discovered an 18th century multicoloured engraving, hidden in one of the reliquaries forming part of the Alcala de Xivert Parish treasure and which is currently being restored in Penyeta Roja.
“When working on the teak, we found that hidden on the back was an image of the Virgin with the Child”, Inma Traver, a restoration specialist, said.
“We had no proof that it existed and, possibly, it was hidden precisely so that it could not be seen”, Traver said, and described the find as “extraordinary”. “It was an engraving which was added to the reliquary as the result of a vow made by one of the faithful, or simply to give it new ornamentation”, the firm’s specialist said.
“The bright colours of the engraving stand out – reds, blues, greens... and show the iconography of the Virgin of Pilar with some angels”. She also described the reliquary as “A piece of silversmith’s work, in the Valencian style, decorated on the base with four cherubim and floral designs”. It is expected that restoration work will end at the end of January so that by the end of February the discovery can be shown to the residents of Alcala de Xivert “so that they can study it thoroughly”. It is planned to have on permanent display in time for Easter.
The Alcala de Xivert collection belonging to the San Juan Bautista parish, restored by Ivacor, is “of great historic and artistic value” and to carry out the restoration work “cleaning and reversible materials have been used, which do not damage the surfaces”.
For some months, the Castellón Provincial Diputación has been working with the Alcala de Xivert-Alcossebre Council and with the town’s parish church, to restore several pieces in the church’s museum collection.
Among the pieces, an engraving was discovered which has been described as “extraordinary” and it will be on display soon. The teak hid the image of a Virgin with the Child Jesus in bright colours.
The Ivacor specialist departments have discovered an 18th century multicoloured engraving, hidden in one of the reliquaries forming part of the Alcala de Xivert Parish treasure and which is currently being restored in Penyeta Roja.
“When working on the teak, we found that hidden on the back was an image of the Virgin with the Child”, Inma Traver, a restoration specialist, said.
“We had no proof that it existed and, possibly, it was hidden precisely so that it could not be seen”, Traver said, and described the find as “extraordinary”. “It was an engraving which was added to the reliquary as the result of a vow made by one of the faithful, or simply to give it new ornamentation”, the firm’s specialist said.
“The bright colours of the engraving stand out – reds, blues, greens... and show the iconography of the Virgin of Pilar with some angels”. She also described the reliquary as “A piece of silversmith’s work, in the Valencian style, decorated on the base with four cherubim and floral designs”. It is expected that restoration work will end at the end of January so that by the end of February the discovery can be shown to the residents of Alcala de Xivert “so that they can study it thoroughly”. It is planned to have on permanent display in time for Easter.
The Alcala de Xivert collection belonging to the San Juan Bautista parish, restored by Ivacor, is “of great historic and artistic value” and to carry out the restoration work “cleaning and reversible materials have been used, which do not damage the surfaces”.
