Montblanc cabinetmaker crafts staff for Pope's crosier

Artisan Òscar Ollé created the 1.60-meter wooden piece, featuring materials from five continents and a cross inspired by the Sagrada Familia.

Artisanal crosier staff made of wood from different continents, with ivory and marquetry details.
IA

Artisanal crosier staff made of wood from different continents, with ivory and marquetry details.

Cabinetmaker Òscar Ollé from Montblanc has contributed to a crosier gifted to the Pope, crafting its staff with wood from five continents and details inspired by the Sagrada Familia.

The artisan Òscar Ollé, based in Montblanc, has crafted the staff of a crosier that is part of a special gift for the Pope during his visit to Catalonia. This piece is the result of a collaborative project with other local artists.
The staff, measuring 1.60 meters in length, is divided into three sections joined by ivory and marquetry rings, with a joining system designed by Ollé himself. Woods sourced from five continents have been used in its construction.
At the top of the crosier is a cross replicating the Jesus Tower of the Sagrada Familia. This cross, along with a turtle figure at the base, is the work of jeweler and sculptor Joan Serramià. Ollé highlighted that "70% of the piece was made in Montblanc, and we are very satisfied."
The commission came about when Serramià visited Ollé's workshop in Montblanc, impressed by previous works inspired by Gaudí. He was seeking an artisan capable of creating a noble wooden crosier with this theme.
In addition to the staff, a wooden case for transporting the crosier and a velvet bag, crafted by pattern maker Anna Maria Garcia, were also made at the Montblanc workshop to complete the gift.