18 carat Gold plated Cross of a Knight of Malta
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Description
| It belonged to Fabricio Spinola of Genoa. He was Captain of the Girona, one of the Galleas of the Spanish Armada, which was sent by Philip II ofSpain to attack Britain in 1588. |
A Galleas was a hybrid of oars and sail. The ships were dispersed first by the British fire ships then by a storm that sent them up the North coast and around Scotland. The Girona stopped on the Irish coast to take on survivors from the ‘Duquessa Santa Ana’ amounting to 1300 men on a ship designed for 550. The Girona ran aground and sank off Laccado Point. Only 5 men survived. In 1967 the wreck was discovered by Robert Stenuit, a Belgian nautical archaeologist. The cross was damaged when found but remarkably, one of the small points was recovered from the seabed and evidence of white enamel remained on another point Width 57mm. Solid 9 carat and 18 carat versions, with solid gold chain available on request.
UNIQUE HISTORIC JEWELLERY REPRODUCTIONS FROM THE BRITISH MUSEUM
Historic Jewellery Reproduction was the first company in the world granted permission to mould original artefacts from the British Museum collection. Established in 1969 by my father Peter Shorer FIIC, an acclaimed archaeologist and conservator at the British Museum for over 40 years, the company continues his legacy of exacting historical accuracy and craftsmanship.