Chalice - 925 Silver - A Neo-baroque Goblet - Spain, C. 1940

This magnificent Spanish chalice, crafted in 925 sterling silver around the second quarter of the 20th century, is a remarkable example of Neo-Baroque, a style that sought to recreate the grandeur and dynamism of 17th-century models through highly precise technique. The piece, tripartite in form, is distinguished by its solidity and elegance, its visual appeal stemming from the contrast between the smoothness of its surfaces and the exuberance of its symbolic ornamentation. The foot features a pronounced central baluster, an architectural element inherited from the Baroque period, which lends the piece a monumental finesse and facilitates its liturgical handling. The vessel rests on this baluster, revealing a simple and refined interior in its upper section, while at its base lies an openwork and chased cup. This section is richly decorated with bunches of grapes and vine shoots, traditional iconography of Eucharistic wine symbolizing the blood of Christ, executed in relief with a play of light and shadow characteristic of historically inspired silverwork. The base widens into a broad, fluted foot, where radial ribs create an impression of centrifugal movement, ensuring the piece's stability. A personalized dedication to a priest is engraved there, a detail that connects the piece to an ordination or priestly anniversary, giving it additional historical and emotional value. From a technical point of view, the chalice is particularly important because of its hallmarks. It bears the five-pointed star, the official hallmark introduced under the Second Spanish Republic following the 1935 regulations to guarantee the purity of sterling silver. This hallmark is a key chronological marker, placing the piece's production at a time of political and social transition, when religious metalwork remained faithful to classical models. Provenance: Private collection, Madrid. Dimensions: Chalice: 22 x 12 x 12 cm; Casket: 36 x 16 x 20 cm; Weight: 380 g