Reliquary of the Holy Crib

Map

Reliquary of the Holy Crib by Luigi Valadier

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The beautiful reliquary of the Holy Crib by the goldsmith Luigi Valadier (1726-85) is part of the confessio of the church of Santa Maria Maggiore. 

The Christ Child's curious Mohican haircut was Valadier's valiant attempt to create a rayed halo!  

The reliquary contains several fragments of wood which are venerated as part of the Sacra Culla (Holy Crib), into which Christ, as a newly-born baby, was placed.