Several of the mannequins which for centuries remained in the niches of the joists of the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Grazie in Curtatone outside Mantova, are entirely or partially covered with armour plating and helmets which date back to various times in history. The armour was originally thought to have been made from papier machè, which is the principal component of the mannequins placed in the holy building in the centuries following its construction. It was only in the thirties of the 20^th century that an English historian, Dr. James Gow Man of the Wallace Collection in London, one of the most famous museums of antique arms, who knew that it was thought that the antique armour held in the "Sanctuary" in Mantova was made of papier maché, came to examine them personally. He realised immediately that they were not made from simulacra of papier maché but from pieces of armour plating made from wrought iron, and that a high number of them dated back to the 15^th century. The then Bishop of Mantova, Mons. Menna, whose position also gave him ownership of the Sanctuary and its contents, on being informed of this very important discovery, commissioned Dr. Man to recover all the warring material from the mannequins. He instructed the pieces to be cleaned and the single items to be catalogued and then reassembled. The work of cleaning was carried out according to empirical methods which proved to be efficient using only simple hot water. The work was conducted inside the courtyard of the Sanctuary with the help of the Rector, Don. Erminio Carra, along with local artisans, including a blacksmith and a saddler. The dust, soot and dirt which had accumulated over the metallic surfaces over hundred of years was removed. Later, after further studies and research, and using modern methods of restoration, the armour was reassembled on the basis of scientific criteria, and the result was 12 armatures. The work was carried out under the strict supervision of the architect, Lionello Giorgio Boccia, internationally recognised as one of the most authoritative experts in the field of antique arms, now sadly no longer with us.

Vannozzo Posio