Altar candlestick of champleve enamel on gilt copper, France, Limoges, 1200-50

Champleve enamel on gilt copper. The tripod base is decorated with semi- human figures of archers and foliage on a blue background; the knop is enriched with foliage and the feet with lion- masks.

Salting Bequest

Medieval Worship

Until the 16th century Roman Catholicism was the universal faith of the Western world and Latin was its universal language. The needs of church ritual inspired the production of a range of richly decorated vessels and vestments, crosses and images in the form of altarpieces. Many were made of gold or silver, adorned with enamels or gems, precious materials seen as symbolic of the reverence due to the worship of God. Less wealthy churches used cheaper vessels in copper, brass or pewter.

The celebration of Mass was and remains the most important service of the Roman Catholic liturgy. For this the minimum requirements are an altar, a chalice and missal, the book of texts necessary for the Mass. Holy Communion or Eucharist is that part of the Mass in which the people participate in the sacrifice of Christ, by partaking of his body and blood in the consecrated bread and wine, held in the chalice and paten.

This candlestick was used in a church but is decorated with a mythological figure, possibly a centaur (half-man, half-horse). Non-Christian imagery is quite common in church architecture and furnishings, but the candlestick may have been made for secular use and then given to a church at a later date.

M.578-1910