'Angel Chalice'
Cup
1905-1906 (made)
1905-1906 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The Scottish artist Phoebe Traquair created embroidery, murals and illuminated manuscripts as well as painted enamels. She distinguished between 'epic' (large- scale) work such as tapestries and wall painting, and 'lyric' (small-scale) work. In 1901 she began her apprenticeship in enamelling to Lady Gibson Carmichael at Castlecraig. From this time enamelling replaced book illustration as her favourite small-scale medium. She created vivid foiled enamel scenes, usually of mythical or spiritual subjects. Both her technique and designs were strongly influenced by medieval and Renaissance examples. Her jewellery, triptychs, caskets and mounted cups and covers, for instance, are all based on historical pieces.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | 'Angel Chalice' (popular title) |
| Materials and techniques | Paua shell, silver, enamel drops and enamelled copper |
| Brief description | Cup of paua shell, enamel and silver, known as the Angel Chalice, by Ramsay and Phoebe Traquair, Edinburgh, 1904-1905 |
| Physical description | Cup, an abalone shell mounted in silver, with enamelled decoration. The shell is mounted with a pierced silver border of scrolling vine leaves and husks and supported on three shaped wires terminating at the rim with moonstones in an open claw setting. Enamel cabochons in closed mounts appear on the wires at the junctions of three shaped triangular frames set with painted enamels of angels with musical instruments. One of these is signed with her monogram. The wires come together at the base of the enamel panels, terminating in a cylindrical stem. The circular domed base is decorated with six cabochon enamels in plain silver mounts, with a moulded edge. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by Mrs H. V. Bartholomew |
| Historical context | This is the earliest and one of the finest of five shells set in silver by J. M. Talbot to a design by Ramsay Traquair. |
| Summary | The Scottish artist Phoebe Traquair created embroidery, murals and illuminated manuscripts as well as painted enamels. She distinguished between 'epic' (large- scale) work such as tapestries and wall painting, and 'lyric' (small-scale) work. In 1901 she began her apprenticeship in enamelling to Lady Gibson Carmichael at Castlecraig. From this time enamelling replaced book illustration as her favourite small-scale medium. She created vivid foiled enamel scenes, usually of mythical or spiritual subjects. Both her technique and designs were strongly influenced by medieval and Renaissance examples. Her jewellery, triptychs, caskets and mounted cups and covers, for instance, are all based on historical pieces. |
| Bibliographic reference | Cumming, Elizabeth, Phoebe Anna Traquair: 1852-1936, Edinburgh, National Galleries of Scotland in assoc. with the National Museums of Scotland, 2005. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.187-1976 |
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| Record created | September 4, 2001 |
| Record URL |
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