Chalice thumbnail 1
Chalice thumbnail 2
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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Medieval & Renaissance, Room 62, The Foyle Foundation Gallery

Chalice

1549 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Burgos (made)

Conical bowl engraved 'SANGUIV MEUS VERE EST POTUS' in an openwork calyx decorated with cherubs; stem formed of a vase set about with four scrolls and four crystals in square settings; stepped foot with concentric rings of ornament, the innermost consisting of cast cherubs, the outer of harpies and linen swags hanging from masts. Eight lobed border, six lobes being decorated with grotesques, one with a coat of arms (the five wounds within a bordure charged with a cross patty and seven Fs) and another with a small cross set with green and blue pastes. Underneath the foot is inscribed S. 1. De SALINAS

Object details

Category
Metalwork
Object type
Chalice
Materials and techniques
Gilded silver
Silver
Brief description
Chalice. Silver-gilt. Spain, Burgos: dated 1549. conical bowl engraved 'SANGUIS MEUS VERE EST POTUS,
Physical description
Conical bowl engraved 'SANGUIV MEUS VERE EST POTUS' in an openwork calyx decorated with cherubs; stem formed of a vase set about with four scrolls and four crystals in square settings; stepped foot with concentric rings of ornament, the innermost consisting of cast cherubs, the outer of harpies and linen swags hanging from masts. Eight lobed border, six lobes being decorated with grotesques, one with a coat of arms (the five wounds within a bordure charged with a cross patty and seven Fs) and another with a small cross set with green and blue pastes. Underneath the foot is inscribed S. 1. De SALINAS
Dimensions
  • Height: 25.5cm
  • Diameter: 19.4cm
  • Weight: 1.32kg
Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries
Marks and inscriptions
  • SANGUIV MEUS VERE EST POTUS (Inscribed in Latin)
    Translation
    My blood is truly a libation
  • S. 1. De SALINAS (Inscribed underneath the foot)
Gallery label
  • CHALICE Dated 1549 This imposing chalice is mainly decorated with Renaissance ornament based on classical sources, but the inscription on the bowl highlights its religious function. Along with the paten (right), the chalice was made for the church of St John the Baptist in Salinas, Spain. These two items, used to distribute the bread and wine during the Mass, were always made as a set. Spain, Burgos Gilded silver Inscribed in Latin, 'My blood is truly a libation' Museum no. 132-1873(2008)
  • CHALICE AND PATEN Silver-gilt, embossed, chased and engraved Spanish (Burgos?); unmarked, dated 1549 The paten bears an inscription recording its gift to the church of S Juan at Salinas (Alava). The set is attributed to Burgos on the basis of a near-identical chalice with Burgos marks in the church of SS Pedro y Felices, Burgos, which bears the same date and the maker's marks QA and RO.
  • 132&133-1873 CHALICE AND PATEN Silver-gilt Spanish (Burgos); dated 1549 This chalice and paten were made for the church of St. John the Baptist at Salinas (Spain) and an image of this saint can be seen on the paten, surrounded by the inscription aecce agnus dei qui tollit peccata m. (Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world). This phrase was used by the Baptist to describe Christ (John 1:29) and was commonly interpreted as referring to the function of the Mass as a means of attaining salvation. The chalice is mainly decorated with Renaissance ornament based on classical sources, but the inscription on the bowl referring to the blood of Christ, highlights its religious function.
Collection
Metalwork Collection
Accession number
132-1873

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Record createdMarch 7, 2007
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O132811/chalice-unknown/
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