Ecclesiastical Salt thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Sacred Silver & Stained Glass, Room 84, The Whiteley Galleries

Ecclesiastical Salt

1550-1600 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This hexagonal receptacle contained consecrated salt for purifying holy water. Holy water is used for ceremonies of consecration (such as Baptism), was placed in water stoups at the entrance of a church or in private homes, and was also used for healing the sick. Inside this Spanish example are six niches with figures of the Apostles with their attributes.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silver gilt
Brief description
Ecclesiastical salt, with six niches depicting figures of the Apostles with their attributes, Toledo or Cuenca, 1550-1600
Physical description
Hexagonal, border decorated with strapwork. Sides embossed with figures of the Apostles in shell toped niches. Baluster colums mask the angles; six button-shaped feet.
Dimensions
  • Height: 9.00cm
  • Length: 13.00cm
  • Weight: 589g
Gallery label
Silver Gallery: The receptacle, usually box-shaped, here hexagonal, contained the consecrated salt for purifying the holy water, used either for consecrating ceremonies, in the water stoup at the entrance of the Church or private homes, and for healing the sick. Inside the six niches are figures of the Apostles with their attributes.(26/11/2002)
Credit line
Dr W.L. Hildburgh Bequest
Object history
Acquisition RF: 55/4478A
Dr WL Hildburgh FSA Bequest.


Hildburgh bought from Von Stumm Collection.
Historical context
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.
Production
Toledo or Cuenca, Castilla La Mancha
Summary
This hexagonal receptacle contained consecrated salt for purifying holy water. Holy water is used for ceremonies of consecration (such as Baptism), was placed in water stoups at the entrance of a church or in private homes, and was also used for healing the sick. Inside this Spanish example are six niches with figures of the Apostles with their attributes.
Bibliographic reference
The Golden Age of Hispanic Silver 1400-1665, Charles Oman, Pg.98, pl.123, HMSO, 1968
Collection
Accession number
M.374-1956

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Record createdFebruary 9, 2004
Record URL
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