Vintage Roman Style Liturgical Chalice In Coppered Brass. Spain, Circa 1970

Elegant Roman style liturgical chalice made circa 1970, possibly in Spain, accompanied by its original matching paten. This is a piece with clean lines and great visual balance, especially attractive due to the combination of the coppered finish and the golden details, which give the ensemble a warm, refined presence highly characteristic of modern Roman inspired liturgical metalwork.

The ensemble presents a sober yet very carefully designed aesthetic, with a wide, broad mouthed cup and low profile inspired by traditional ancient Roman chalices. This type of design was widely used in churches and chapels during the middle decades of the 20th century because of its comfort in use, visual elegance and perfect adaptation to contemporary liturgy. The chalice conveys a very clean and harmonious appearance, with a particularly pleasant presence upon the altar.

The entire piece is made of brass, including the interior of the cup, with a coppered finish over most of the surface. The subcup preserves the natural tone of gilded brass, creating a very attractive chromatic contrast that visually enhances the structure of the chalice. The decoration is concentrated mainly on the base and the subcup, where relief cartouches with grape clusters, wheat sheaves and vine leaves appear, clear Eucharistic symbols executed with good detail and perfectly integrated into the overall design.

The circular base has a wide and stable profile, decorated with pointed reserves alternating vine and wheat motifs worked in relief. The stem, smooth and stylized, incorporates a spherical central knop of good size that facilitates grip during liturgical use and brings visual balance to the ensemble. The cup maintains soft lines and clean surfaces, finished on its lower part with an elegant border decorated with vegetal motifs and grape clusters. The original paten preserves the same functional and balanced aesthetic of the chalice, with a smooth surface and slightly raised profile.

The overall state of preservation is good. The coppered finish maintains a very pleasant and uniform appearance, still preserving much of its original attractiveness. Small rubs and light signs of use and passage of time can be seen, normal in this type of liturgical pieces originally intended for worship. The interior of the cup also presents small superficial marks from use, without affecting in any way the good general appearance of the ensemble. No major dents, deformations or structural problems are observed.

Visually, this is a very elegant and balanced chalice, with a particularly attractive modern liturgical aesthetic. The combination of smooth surfaces with the Eucharistic relief decoration gives character to the ensemble without losing the sobriety characteristic of this type of 20th century religious metalwork. In addition, the width of the cup and the cleanliness of its lines further reinforce its liturgical presence.

The chalice is accompanied by its original paten, something always interesting to preserve in this type of ensemble. Due to its comfortable and functional design, it remains perfectly suitable for liturgical use, while also being highly attractive for a specialized collection of modern sacred art, a private chapel or a priest. An authentic altar piece, elegant, functional and with a Roman aesthetic increasingly appreciated within 20th century liturgical metalwork.

Measurements: Chalice: Height: 17.8 cm. Base Diameter: 12 cm. Cup Diameter: 11.5 cm. (7 x 4.72 x 4.53 in). Paten: Diameter: 14.2 cm (5.59 in). Total Weight: 469 g. (16.54 oz.)