The Cathedral of St. Cyriacus in Ancona, now Ancona Cathedral, is located in central Italy on the Adriatic coast. It was the seat of the Archbishop of Ancona. Ancona was a popular pilgrimage location due to its proximity to Loreto, where the home of the Virgin Mary was allegedly relocated during the 13th century. The cathedral obtained relics in the 11th century supposedly belonging to St. Cyriacus and St. Marcellinus. Other cathedral relics, obtained at unknown dates, included an alleged piece of Jesus' crown of thorns and the heads of Saints Peter and Paul. Catholic pilgrims often traveled great distances to view significant items and sites related to saints and holy figures.

Source: Hofmann, Paul. “Italy's Loreto Offers Vistas And a Legend.” New York Times, June 18, 1989. Accessed March 20, 2018. https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/18/travel/italy-s-loreto-offers-vistas-and-a-legend.html.

McCauley, Mary Carole. “Jesus' grandmother's foot pillow, other rare artifacts on view at Peabody Library.” Baltimore Sun, September 20, 2017. Accessed March 20, 2018. http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/arts/bs-fe-peabody-bibliomania-20170920-story.html.

Paul Palaiologos Tagaris, who allegedly donated the cushion to the Cathedral of St. Cyriacus in Ancona, was a 14th century Byzantine Greek monk. Other than St. Anne, he is the earliest, purported historical figure associated with this item. In 1380, after being appointed Latin Patriarch of Constantinople, he arrived in Ancona en route to Rome and presented officials with several valuable relics.

There is no information on the creator of the cushion, or signer of the certificate.

Source: Fattori, Niccolò. “The Greek Confraternity of Sant’ Anna Dei Greci in Ancona: Demographic Structure and Social Responsibilities (1524–1580).” In Early Modern Ethnic and Religious Communities in Exile, edited by Yosef Kaplan, 44-93. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2017.