Last Tuesday, a solid silver cornice was placed above the altarpiece of the Assumption at the Cathedral in Victoria after being blessed by Bishop Mario Grech.

Measuring 3.4 by 1.2 metres, it is one of the largest silver objets d’art executed in Malta in the past 25 years. Just under 50kg of silver was used to cast the work, which was designed and sculpted by Renzo Gauci; the wooden frame was made by Queen’s Furniture, Fgura; it was executed by silversmith John Bartolo, assisted by Jason Farrugia.

A royal blue canopy flows from the cornice. It was made by three volunteer parishoners: Maria Apap, Miriam Bonnici and Marlene Portelli. The project, an idea of archpriest Fr Joseph Attard, was coordinated by Fr Joe Calleja. Paid for by collections from parishioners over the past two-and-a-half years, it will be a main attraction for the Santa Marija feast to be celebrated on Thursday.