Pyx
ca. 1630 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A ciborium is a container for the consecrated pieces of bread used during the Catholic service of Mass. Central to Catholic worship is the belief in transubstantiation: that the consecrated bread and wine are miraculously converted into the body and blood of Christ during the service.
This Spanish ciborium is designed in the 'Herreran' style, named after the architect Juan Herrera, who built the Escorial palace near Madrid around 1575 for Philip II of Spain (ruled 1556-1598). Herreran goldsmiths' work is usually architectural in form, combining plain surfaces with discreet decoration. Small enamelled bosses applied to the surface added colour and broke up the austerity of the design.
This Spanish ciborium is designed in the 'Herreran' style, named after the architect Juan Herrera, who built the Escorial palace near Madrid around 1575 for Philip II of Spain (ruled 1556-1598). Herreran goldsmiths' work is usually architectural in form, combining plain surfaces with discreet decoration. Small enamelled bosses applied to the surface added colour and broke up the austerity of the design.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 3 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Silver, silver-gilt, with enamelled bosses |
| Brief description | Pyx, silver-gilt with enamelled bosses, Spain, ca. 1630, unmarked. |
| Physical description | Shallow bowl, decorated in the Herrera style, baluster stem and round foot with palmette toes; domed lid surmounted by a cross. The lid, bowl and foot set with light blue enamelled bosses framed with pounced scrollwork, the foot is also set with four cherubs. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Dr W.L. Hildburgh Bequest |
| Object history | The pyx was acquired in Madrid, in 1927, by the collector Walter Leo Hildburgh. He bequeathed it to the Museum on his death in 1955. |
| Summary | A ciborium is a container for the consecrated pieces of bread used during the Catholic service of Mass. Central to Catholic worship is the belief in transubstantiation: that the consecrated bread and wine are miraculously converted into the body and blood of Christ during the service. This Spanish ciborium is designed in the 'Herreran' style, named after the architect Juan Herrera, who built the Escorial palace near Madrid around 1575 for Philip II of Spain (ruled 1556-1598). Herreran goldsmiths' work is usually architectural in form, combining plain surfaces with discreet decoration. Small enamelled bosses applied to the surface added colour and broke up the austerity of the design. |
| Bibliographic reference | Oman, Charles. The Golden Age of Hispanic Silver: 1400 - 1665. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1968. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.257 to :2-1956 |
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| Record created | February 9, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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