Silver, parcel-gilt, Spain, Huesca, ca.1500

Oblong octagonal, with band of gilt cast strawberry-leaf ornament round the top and bottom of the box. The base, sides and interior of the casket (lid and container) are all gilt. The hinged lid rises to a point and is ungilt except for the openwork cresting round the edge and the orb on the top.

Dr W.L. Hildburgh Bequest

Hildburgh Bequest

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 pyx (from the Greek for ‘box’) is used in Roman Catholic worship to contain the Sacred Host, the consecrated bread or wafer used in the Mass.

M.336-1956