Silver-gilt Ciborium, France Circa 1845, By Martin & Dejean Orfevres

Gilt silver ciborium, France, circa 1838 — by Martin & Dejean, silversmiths Gilt silver ciborium, made in repoussé, chased and guilloché, composed of four screwed parts. It rests on a circular base with a domed terrace, grooved, profiled in an ogee, and decorated on the cavetto with bouquets of wheat alternating with quatrefoils. The terrace, separated from the base by a projecting frieze of water leaves, is decorated with three busts represented from the front: Christ, the Virgin Mary and Saint Anne, alternating with Eucharistic symbols. The stem has an inverted pear-shaped knot. The base of the knot is decorated with palm leaves; the shoulder, decorated with interlacing, is enriched with fan-shaped gadroons alternating with Passion nails. The knot is encircled by a toric ring adorned with a frieze of pearls, multiple collarettes and twists. The cup is set in a false cup decorated with motifs of palms, gadroons, vines, ears of wheat, reeds, as well as three oval medallions representing the theological virtues: faith and charity (the latter appearing on two of the medallions). Three angel heads in high relief separate these medallions. The latter are signed by the medalist Fleury Montagny (1760–1836). The lid, bordered by a frieze of water leaves and with a very pronounced dome, is decorated with Eucharistic symbols on a guilloché background, in interlacing, and surmounted by a cross. 950/1000 silver, Minerva hallmark. The work is attributed to the goldsmiths Martin & Dejean, representatives of the neo-Renaissance style. Their works are kept in the treasury of Lourdes, in the basilica of Montmartre, as well as in several provincial churches (Cantal, Charente, Côte-d'Or, Ardèche, etc.). An inscription appears around the edge of the foot: "TO JESUS AND MARY THE GRATEFUL HEARTS 1845" Height: 32 cm Foot: 14.2 cm Weight: 589 g Very good general condition — slight deformations on the edge bearing the inscription, traces of use, beautiful gilding preserved inside the cup. No repairs or shocks reported. Reference: Dictionary of Liturgical Arts 19th–20th Centuries, p. 318. ISBN: 2-85917-215-7