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Learn MoreElizabethan Silver Communion Cup
- This rare communion cup from 1570 exemplifies the design of early Reformation communion cups
- The soft texture and distinctive color of aged silver are particularly evident in this chalice
- Elizabethan silver such as this is particularly rare because much of it was melted down later
- This historic cup is a is a testament to the rich heritage of 16th-century silver
- Get complete item description here
$14,500
Item No.
31-9195
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Description
Communion Cup
Hallmarked London, 1570
This exceptionally rare communion cup from 1570 exemplifies the design of early Reformation “decent” communion cups, rare treasures in today's market. Notably pleasing in its proportions and clean lines, this cup features a knopped stem and a stepped foot adorned with a minutely detailed geometric pattern. Encircling the bowl is an engraved band of moresque foliage within strapwork, characteristic of 16th-century silver.
The soft texture and distinctive color. . .
Hallmarked London, 1570
This exceptionally rare communion cup from 1570 exemplifies the design of early Reformation “decent” communion cups, rare treasures in today's market. Notably pleasing in its proportions and clean lines, this cup features a knopped stem and a stepped foot adorned with a minutely detailed geometric pattern. Encircling the bowl is an engraved band of moresque foliage within strapwork, characteristic of 16th-century silver.
The soft texture and distinctive color. . .
Read More
Communion Cup
Hallmarked London, 1570
This exceptionally rare communion cup from 1570 exemplifies the design of early Reformation “decent” communion cups, rare treasures in today's market. Notably pleasing in its proportions and clean lines, this cup features a knopped stem and a stepped foot adorned with a minutely detailed geometric pattern. Encircling the bowl is an engraved band of moresque foliage within strapwork, characteristic of 16th-century silver.
The soft texture and distinctive color of aged silver are particularly evident in this chalice. Before 1750, silver processing involved two workers pounding an ingot into a thin disk, which was then raised and molded with various hammers and chasing tools, and polished by hand. This labor-intensive process imparted a unique beauty to wrought silver that cannot be replicated using post-1750 rolled sheets of even silver.
During the English Reformation, established under Henry VIII and firmly reestablished after Elizabeth I's accession in 1558, Archbishop Parker urged every parish church to adopt the new “demythologized” communion cups. These cups, known as “decent communion cups,” became some of the most well-known English silver objects of the 16th century. Medieval chalices used in Roman Catholic masses were often reworked into these new forms, typically resulting in taller cups that accommodated the Reformers' view of communion by offering wine to all the laity.
Elizabethan silver such as this is particularly rare because much of it was melted down during subsequent periods, including the English Civil War and later economic hardships, leaving few original works intact. Two similar examples from this period are in the Francine Fowler, Jr. collection at UCLA, and another, marked by a bellows, resides in the Schroder collection. This particular cup, with its historical significance and exceptional craftsmanship, is a testament to the rich heritage of English Reformation silver.
6 1/8" high x 3" wide x 3" deep
Exhibited:
San Antonio Museum of Art, 1997, “The Age of Excellence: English, Irish, and American Silver.”
Provenance:
Sale, Sotheby’s New York, 17 December 1980, lot 380, with a paten marked RC
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
Red McCombs Collection, Texas
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
Hallmarked London, 1570
This exceptionally rare communion cup from 1570 exemplifies the design of early Reformation “decent” communion cups, rare treasures in today's market. Notably pleasing in its proportions and clean lines, this cup features a knopped stem and a stepped foot adorned with a minutely detailed geometric pattern. Encircling the bowl is an engraved band of moresque foliage within strapwork, characteristic of 16th-century silver.
The soft texture and distinctive color of aged silver are particularly evident in this chalice. Before 1750, silver processing involved two workers pounding an ingot into a thin disk, which was then raised and molded with various hammers and chasing tools, and polished by hand. This labor-intensive process imparted a unique beauty to wrought silver that cannot be replicated using post-1750 rolled sheets of even silver.
During the English Reformation, established under Henry VIII and firmly reestablished after Elizabeth I's accession in 1558, Archbishop Parker urged every parish church to adopt the new “demythologized” communion cups. These cups, known as “decent communion cups,” became some of the most well-known English silver objects of the 16th century. Medieval chalices used in Roman Catholic masses were often reworked into these new forms, typically resulting in taller cups that accommodated the Reformers' view of communion by offering wine to all the laity.
Elizabethan silver such as this is particularly rare because much of it was melted down during subsequent periods, including the English Civil War and later economic hardships, leaving few original works intact. Two similar examples from this period are in the Francine Fowler, Jr. collection at UCLA, and another, marked by a bellows, resides in the Schroder collection. This particular cup, with its historical significance and exceptional craftsmanship, is a testament to the rich heritage of English Reformation silver.
6 1/8" high x 3" wide x 3" deep
Exhibited:
San Antonio Museum of Art, 1997, “The Age of Excellence: English, Irish, and American Silver.”
Provenance:
Sale, Sotheby’s New York, 17 December 1980, lot 380, with a paten marked RC
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
Red McCombs Collection, Texas
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
Read Less
Specifications
| Period: | Pre-17th Century |
| Origin: | England |
| Type: | Goblets & Cups |
| Style: | Elizabethan/Jacobean |
| Depth: | 3.0 in. (7.62 cm) |
| Width: | 3.0 in. (7.62 cm) |
| Height: | 6.13 in. (15.56 cm) |
Discover More
Vessels of History: An Exploration of the Chalice
The chalice, an object steeped in religious, devotional, and cultural history, has long been heralded as a symbol for redemption, honor, and various other celebratory uses. The word 'chalice' itself originates from the...
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Buy with Confidence
At M.S. Rau, we are committed to building a long-term, rewarding relationship with each and every client. That’s why your purchase is backed by our 125% guarantee.
Learn More
