Silver, parcel-gilt, England, unmarked, ca.1500

Wide shallow bowl on six- sided stem, the knop with six bosses and pierced tracery, on six- pointed base bearing the Crucifixion.

Purchased from Christie's, 6th April 1911, lot 77; Crichton Bros. Close in style to, if smaller than, the Coombe Keynes chalice.

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.

A chalice and paten were used during the Mass to serve the consecrated wine and bread. This chalice, typical of thousands used in England before the Reformation, is lightweight and simply decorated. The paten is heavily scored where the bread has been cut.

M.488A-1911