Communion Cup and Paten Cover
1571-1574 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
A cup and paten, or plate, are used for holding the consecrated wine and bread in the Christian celebration of Holy Communion in Protestant Churches. Holy Communion is the service that re-enacts the sharing of bread and wine at the Last Supper of Christ. The footed paten can be turned upside down to act as a cover to the cup.
History & Design
After Henry VIII's break with the Church of Rome in 1534 and the establishment of the Church of England, liturgical silver developed new forms to signal the move away from Roman Catholic traditions. The communion cup now resembled large domestic cups to clearly demonstrate, on a symbolic and practical level, that the consecrated wine was for the congregation as well as for the priest. Instructions for the change in design came from the Archbishop of Canterbury, and were relayed to local goldsmiths by the Goldsmiths' Company. This cup was re-fashioned in Exeter from an earlier communion cup.
Ornament
As sacred imagery was considered 'superstitious' in the Church of England, other forms of ornament were introduced. In this example the scrolling foliage engraved within cross-hatched strapwork is characteristic of the Renaissance ornament that had recently been introduced into England from Continental Europe.
A cup and paten, or plate, are used for holding the consecrated wine and bread in the Christian celebration of Holy Communion in Protestant Churches. Holy Communion is the service that re-enacts the sharing of bread and wine at the Last Supper of Christ. The footed paten can be turned upside down to act as a cover to the cup.
History & Design
After Henry VIII's break with the Church of Rome in 1534 and the establishment of the Church of England, liturgical silver developed new forms to signal the move away from Roman Catholic traditions. The communion cup now resembled large domestic cups to clearly demonstrate, on a symbolic and practical level, that the consecrated wine was for the congregation as well as for the priest. Instructions for the change in design came from the Archbishop of Canterbury, and were relayed to local goldsmiths by the Goldsmiths' Company. This cup was re-fashioned in Exeter from an earlier communion cup.
Ornament
As sacred imagery was considered 'superstitious' in the Church of England, other forms of ornament were introduced. In this example the scrolling foliage engraved within cross-hatched strapwork is characteristic of the Renaissance ornament that had recently been introduced into England from Continental Europe.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Engraved silver, with gilded interiors |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Marked 'I IONS' in two punches for John Jones, struck below rim of cup and within the cover |
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
The silver of this cup was formerly shaped as a Catholic chalice, then refashioned into a communion cup for Protestant worship. The new design was based on contemporary secular wine cups. After 1560, engraved Moresque ornament was no longer fashionable for secular silver but had become the standard decoration for communion cups.(27/03/2003) |
| Object history | Made in Exeter by John Jones (active in 1551, died in 1583) from an earlier cup |
| Summary | Object Type A cup and paten, or plate, are used for holding the consecrated wine and bread in the Christian celebration of Holy Communion in Protestant Churches. Holy Communion is the service that re-enacts the sharing of bread and wine at the Last Supper of Christ. The footed paten can be turned upside down to act as a cover to the cup. History & Design After Henry VIII's break with the Church of Rome in 1534 and the establishment of the Church of England, liturgical silver developed new forms to signal the move away from Roman Catholic traditions. The communion cup now resembled large domestic cups to clearly demonstrate, on a symbolic and practical level, that the consecrated wine was for the congregation as well as for the priest. Instructions for the change in design came from the Archbishop of Canterbury, and were relayed to local goldsmiths by the Goldsmiths' Company. This cup was re-fashioned in Exeter from an earlier communion cup. Ornament As sacred imagery was considered 'superstitious' in the Church of England, other forms of ornament were introduced. In this example the scrolling foliage engraved within cross-hatched strapwork is characteristic of the Renaissance ornament that had recently been introduced into England from Continental Europe. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 4636-1858 |
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| Record created | April 27, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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