66 - Italy, 1954, silver crosier belonging to His Excellency Monsignor Oddo Bernacchia (Fano, 1880–Nerola, 1964), Bishop of Termoli and Larino, Baron of San Giacomo; complete with case/suitcase and other important personal items. Dimensions: Case 62.00 x 29.00 x 8.00 cm – Miters 40.00 x 30.00 cm – Diploma 46.00 x 33.00 cm

Italy, 1954, silver crosier belonging to His Excellency Monsignor Oddo Bernacchia (Fano, 1880–Nerola, 1964), Bishop of Termoli and Larino, Baron of San Giacomo; complete with case/suitcase and other important personal items. Dimensions: Case 62.00 x 29.00 x 8.00 cm – Miters 40.00 x 30.00 cm – Diploma 46.00 x 33.00 cm Comprising four elements, all stamped with the “800” hallmark, this pastoral staff was crafted in the second half of the 1940s. The upper part, the scroll, is decorated with phytomorphic carvings depicting the leaves of the acanthus plant. In sacred art, the acanthus symbolizes eternal life, endurance in adversity, and episcopal dignity. The volute ends with a round pedestal whose finely chiseled frame supports the Agnus Dei holding a cross in its paw to symbolize God. On the banner decorating the cross is another hallmark, “800,” and a further hallmark featuring a diamond and the inscription “6 MI,” which identifies the historic and prestigious Milanese silversmith Romeo Miracoli e Figlio. In the central section, the cylindrical node features three niches, each housing a figure of a saint. The sculptures, masterfully carved in the round, are easily identifiable thanks to the goldsmith’s skill in superbly delineating their details. They are the Doctors of the Western Church: Saint Ambrose, Saint Gregory the Great, and Saint Jerome. This liturgical staff of extraordinary beauty and rarity was donated to Monsignor Oddo Bernacca by the citizens of Termoli in 1954 when the prelate, by a papal bull dated January 1, established the parish in honor of Saint Timothy, a favorite disciple of the Apostle Paul, whose remains—thanks to the work commissioned by Bernacca—had been discovered on May 11, 1945, during the restoration of the cathedral. This important collection is complemented by two other liturgical vestments belonging to Monsignor Bernacchia: a gold-decorated miter and a simple miter. The first, made in the late 1930s, is missing some gemstones on both sides, while the simple one, dating from the mid-1940s, is in excellent condition. Finally, there is the certificate of merit on parchment paper, watercolored and hand-decorated to commemorate the honorary citizenship conferred upon Oddo Bernacchia by the city of Termoli on April 19, 1950. The crosier is preserved in its original case, which shows some inevitable signs of age. The interior, lined with satin and velvet, is in excellent condition. The assembled crosier stands 1.90 m tall overall. Its total weight is 1,610 kg.