Almost heaven: Hamilton home with massive collection of religious artifacts up for sale

Nestled in Hamilton’s North End is a house as close to heaven on earth as possible – and it could be yours.

It may not look unusual from the outside, but a handful of statues and icons near the main entrance only give a hint of the interior of the three bedroom unit.

Behind the front door, wrapped like stained glass, lies a spiritual sanctuary that has turned the seemingly normal apartment into a shrine of sorts – a shrine that is expected to be accompanied with its departing owners, but that makes for an unusual one Staging of a house for sale.

Lou Tallarico describes the home, which is listed at $ 799,900, as “very, very unique and very sacred.”

From the outside, the house looks rather inconspicuous. (Dan Taekema / CBC)

He is the sales representative for ReMax Escarpment Golfi Realty Inc. tasked with finding new residents for the otherworldly residence.

Every wall and almost every surface is covered with Catholic icons, nativity scenes and countless figures. In the living room, next to the television, is a large display centered on the crucifixion, flanked by black and gold pillars and a place to kneel and pray. The ceiling above is painted to resemble the sky and clouds – perhaps a nod to the Sistine Chapel or other sacred sites.

“Come on, take a look at the house. The worst thing that will happen is that you will be blessed and you will feel good, ”said Tallarico. “When I walk through this house there is a purification of some kind of spirituality.”

The collection is the work of the adult son of the couple who owns the house, according to the seller who sells the house. (Dan Taekema / CBC)

The sales rep said the collection was the work of an adult son whose parents own the house. The family declined to share the story behind the collection, but Tallarico cannot avoid the elephant in the room on a guided tour.

He estimated that it was made up of thousands of parts and was “worth a lot” although he wasn’t sure how much.

The son would go to churches when they close or update and buy or save various pieces, Tallarico said.

Bringing the sacred closer to people

It’s a collection that spans all three floors of the house, with images of saints, popes, and Jesus peeking out of the walls in bedrooms, hallways, and living rooms.

Tallarico works in the real estate business and said he’s seen a lot of different things, but the size and type of collection that populates the humble house on Macaulay Street is something different.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” he admitted. “It was very, very overwhelming when I first walked in here.”

CLOCK | ‘Look at the house … you will be blessed and feel good ‘:

Take a tour of this Hamilton home that houses a unique collection

Find out why the sales rep of this house says it is “very sacred”. 1:42

When Sam Migliore looked through photos of the listing online, he noticed something familiar.

Migliore is a professor of medical and visual anthropology at BC CBC Hamilton contacted him to get his opinion on the house and explain the drive behind such loyal collecting.

He said a framed picture of the Madonna hanging in the house resembled one his family had brought to Canada from Sicily in the 1950s.

“My mother kept the picture in the bedroom to sort of watch over all of us,” Migliore explained in an email.

The professor said some of the works of art in the house appear to be set up as shrines to Jesus, Mary, or various saints.

“The sheer number of works is more than impressive,” he wrote, adding that the collection offers a variety of art forms and depictions of religious figures.

The collection includes thousands of pieces, from large statues and paintings to tiny figurines and almost life-size nativity scenes. (Dan Taekema / CBC)

It’s hard to say why someone collects and displays so many items, says Migliore, who added that it could reflect a personal aesthetic or the importance of religion in a person’s life.

“In general, shrines can be used to bring the sacred to people, to create a basis for communication with religious figures, or to create a special space for spiritual activity,” he said. “However, I hope that something can be done to somehow get the items in a new location after they are sold.”

‘Trust’ in the house

The collection will be saved, with the vast majority of the family leaving when they move out, Tallarico said. But first he has to find someone to buy the semi-detached house.

Tallarico said that despite the excellent condition and location of the house, it did not generate the expected interest.

“I’ll be honest with you – it was a little harder than I thought,” he said.

“We feel like there might be some hesitation, people look at some of the pictures and think that maybe this is not for them.”

GAUDY IS DOUBLE WITH THIS.
Still, I’m a maximalist and a big fan of color, so bravo to these homeowners for staying true to themselves. #See Beyondhttps://t.co/V7hjnlJQ3p pic.twitter.com/sx5pFAXJQ4

– @ FreshBrick

To help people visualize the building without its decoration, his team created some virtual renderings to show what it would look like without so many saints staring down at you.

He invited people to pique their curiosity, tour the house, and be inspired to see what it could be instead of what it is.

“Have confidence … that once this place is empty it will be a great, fantastic family home in this neighborhood.”

A crown of thorns rests on a pedestal next to a showcase in the living room. (Dan Taekema / CBC)