Chalice
1500-1519 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A chalice is the central sacred vessel of the Catholic church in which the priest consecrates wine during the service of Mass. This chalice would have been originally accompanied by a paten (dish) for the consecrated bread. According to Catholic belief the wine and bread are miraculously transformed into the blood and body of Christ during the Mass. The bowls of silver chalices are usually gilded inside, to emphasize the precious nature of their contents and to protect the metal.
The wavy outline of this chalice's base was a common feature of Catalan goldsmiths. More original, however, is the design of the knop (the bulbous section on the stem) which resembles ribbed beads from a rosary (a chain of beads used by Catholics as an aide-memoire to help count through a sequence of prayers). This decorative feature is repeated further down the stem. The chalice may have belonged to a Church associated with the Dominican order, since the attribute or symbol associated with Saint Dominic (who founded the Order), is a rosary.
The wavy outline of this chalice's base was a common feature of Catalan goldsmiths. More original, however, is the design of the knop (the bulbous section on the stem) which resembles ribbed beads from a rosary (a chain of beads used by Catholics as an aide-memoire to help count through a sequence of prayers). This decorative feature is repeated further down the stem. The chalice may have belonged to a Church associated with the Dominican order, since the attribute or symbol associated with Saint Dominic (who founded the Order), is a rosary.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver-gilt, engraved |
| Brief description | Spain, Barcelona, 16th century; Church plate, Continental |
| Physical description | Bell shaped bowl set in a calyx of cast gothic foliage; hexagonal stem with a band of six ribbed cushions round the base and a knop fashioned in a similar manner, six sided foot with wavy border and engraved crucifix. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label | Silver Gallery:
This 16th-century chalice retains many Gothic features including Christian iconography. The foliage on the cup unravels into cross-shaped ends, and the engraved symbols on the base, with the Crucifixion, and the three nails as symbol of the Passion are a reminder of Christ's death.
The wavy outline of the foot appears on chalices from the Catalan province. Unusual, however, is the bead-like design of the knop (the bulbous feature on the stem). The same bead ornament with vertical ribs, imitating cut wood, appears in slightly smaller form on the base of the hexagonal shaft. They resemble beads of a rosary, used to assist in recitating prayers, and could possibly have a symbolic value. The chalice may have belonged to a Church associated with the Dominicans. Saint Dominic, who founded the Dominican Order, had as his attribute the rosary.(26/11/2002) |
| Credit line | Dr W.L. Hildburgh Bequest |
| Object history | Acquisition RF: 55/4478A Dr WL Hildburgh FSA Bequest Wavy foot is characteristic of Catalan chalices at this time. Bought in Paris in 1926. Hildburgh Bequest 55/44784 |
| Production | Maker unidentified |
| Summary | A chalice is the central sacred vessel of the Catholic church in which the priest consecrates wine during the service of Mass. This chalice would have been originally accompanied by a paten (dish) for the consecrated bread. According to Catholic belief the wine and bread are miraculously transformed into the blood and body of Christ during the Mass. The bowls of silver chalices are usually gilded inside, to emphasize the precious nature of their contents and to protect the metal. The wavy outline of this chalice's base was a common feature of Catalan goldsmiths. More original, however, is the design of the knop (the bulbous section on the stem) which resembles ribbed beads from a rosary (a chain of beads used by Catholics as an aide-memoire to help count through a sequence of prayers). This decorative feature is repeated further down the stem. The chalice may have belonged to a Church associated with the Dominican order, since the attribute or symbol associated with Saint Dominic (who founded the Order), is a rosary. |
| Bibliographic reference | The Golden Age of Hispanic Silver 1400-1665, Charles Oman, Pg.7, pl.14, HMSO, 1968 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.246-1956 |
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| Record created | February 9, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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