Antique Spanish Silver Ciborium Made In Jerez De La Frontera. Spain, 1863

Magnificent Spanish ciborium made in Jerez de la Frontera in the year 1863, entirely in silver and with that distinctly Spanish character that is immediately appreciated in the purity of its lines and the firmness of its silhouette. It is a sober, elegant and very well proportioned piece, one of those that do not need abundant decoration to convey quality. All of its appeal rests in the quality of the workmanship, the beauty of the metal and the harmony of a very balanced liturgical design, conceived with practical sense and true Eucharistic dignity. The interior of the cup also preserves its gilding, a detail always important in this type of piece and which here further reinforces its fine overall appearance.

The base is circular and stepped, with clean and well defined moldings that give it solidity without overloading it. The stem, also molded, maintains the same restrained line of the whole and provides a very pleasant sensation of strength. The central knop, simple but elegant, is very well executed within that Spanish taste for sober and forceful forms. The cup, with rounded profile, is completed by its matching lid, equally plain and molded, crowned in turn by a cross that introduces the only decorative accent of the whole. That cross, small but expressive, completes the decoration of the piece with the devotional sense corresponding to it, without at any moment breaking the overall cleanliness of the design.

One of the most interesting points of the ciborium lies in the hallmarks on the base. It clearly bears those of Jerez de la Frontera and the date 1863, details that securely place the piece in its place and moment of manufacture. Alongside them also appear two other hallmarks not identified with certainty. One of them must correspond to the assayer and the other probably to the silversmith, although for now it has not been possible to securely determine which is which, nor has information related to a specific name been found. The clearer of the two seems to read T. Alonso.

The state of preservation is very good, and so is its condition for use. The silver presents very fine appearance, with the logical softness of an authentic and antique liturgical piece, but without losing visual strength or elegance. The interior gilding is well preserved and maintains the appeal of the whole. On the underside the handmade work of the metal can also be appreciated, something that always adds interest to this type of 19th century silverwork and reminds us that we are before a truly handmade piece, not a later or industrial production.

Because of its size, this is a ciborium especially appropriate for a small parish, a chapel or an oratory. It may also fit very well in a carefully assembled collection of 19th century Spanish religious silverwork, where it would stand out because of its authenticity, its fine date and its clearly Andalusian character. It possesses the beauty of discreet but serious pieces, conceived to last and to continue fulfilling their function with dignity during the Eucharist. It is, in short, a very rewarding acquisition for anyone who values fine antique religious goldsmith work, authentic silver and Spanish pieces with their own personality.

Measurements: Total height including the cross: 24 cm (9.45 in). Diameter of the cup: 9 cm (3.54 in). Diameter of the base: 12.5 cm (4.92 in). Weight: 427 g. (15.06 oz.)