Silver, parcel-gilt and ivory, London hallmarks for 1933-4, mark of Dunstan Pruden

The chalice, silver, parcel gilt, is hallmarked for London, 1933-4. The bowl plain with a gilt interior; the foot domed rising from a ten sided base. The knop and stem are of faceted ivory terminating at each end in a ten sided silver moulding. The knop is encircled by a band of zig-zag ornament, decorated with a single, engraved line.

Given by Miss D. Ivatt

Designed and made by Dunstan Pruden for Miss D. Ivatt who presented the chalice and paten to the Museum, through Father Anthony Symondson on 18/04/1968.

The Modern Church
In the late Victorian period two architects turned- craftsmen, Henry Wilson and C.R. Ashbee, initiated a decisive shift towards fine craftsmanship in church silver. This led to a sharp fall in the standing of commercial manufacturers but provided a steady source of work for many designer-silversmiths that has lasted into the present day. This revival of craftsmanship came out of the Arts and Crafts movement, one of the greatest social and artistic forces of the age. Favouring small studio workshops and simplicity of form, the movement set the pattern for church silver throughout the 20th century, whether for major cathedral commissions or for parish churches. Cathedral Church of St Michael, Coventry, 1954-62

Reason For Production: Commission

This chalice would have held the wine used in the Christian Eucharist service. The gilding on the interior helps to protect the silver from being corroded by the acid in the wine. Its accompanying paten or communion plate (Museum no. M.22A-1968) would have held the bread.

Alfred Charles Pruden (1906-1974) designed and made the set as a commission. He changed his name to Dunstan Pruden when he was received into the Roman Catholic Church and saw his work as an expression of his religious beliefs. He started his career in a shared London workshop but moved to Ditchling in East Sussex to join the Roman Catholic craft community, The Guild of St. Joseph and St. Dominic, established by the sculptor Eric Gill in 1921.

M.22-1968