Gilded Silver Chalice, Enamels, France, Late 19th Century

The chalice, made of gilt silver, is composed of four elements fitted or screwed together: a polylobed foot with six lobes, a circular stem with a collar and a flattened spherical node, and finally a circular cup, fitted into an openwork and embossed false cup. With the exception of the cup, the object is entirely covered with a decoration in high relief, executed in the mass, embossed and chased. The foot is decorated with three medallions, the details of which are painted with enamel. It is surrounded by a frieze of pearls, and the ogee is fitted with a screwed enameled cross. The upper part of the foot is decorated with vine motifs on a guilloché background, alternating with three oval medallions representing Christ, the Virgin and Saint Joseph, all haloed, from the front and at half-length. Christ, wearing the cruciferous halo, blesses with his right hand and presents with his left an open book on which the letters alpha and omega stand out. The Virgin adopts a meditative attitude, her hands crossed on her chest. Saint Joseph, slightly turned, holds a lily, symbol of chastity. The tubular stem is simply adorned with a few small flowers. The toric knot is decorated with vine branches, divided into six sections delimited by ribboned nets. The slightly conical cup rests on a strongly projecting, openwork and cut-out false cup, decorated with aquatic plants. The rim of the saucer is embellished with a frieze of vine branches, in perfect harmony with the ornamentation of the foot. 950/1000 silver, Minerva hallmarkMaster silversmith: Chevron Frères, hallmark inscribed on September 24, 1885, ParisHeight: 24.5 cmDiameter of the foot: 15 cmDiameter of the cup: 9.4 cmWeight: 503 g Condition: Very good condition. No trace of repair, no shock, no deformation. Complete enamel, without missing parts. Wear of the gilding. Inscription engraved on the edge of the foot: L'abbé Pergeaux de Montebourg 1866.