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Antique French Gilt Silver Chalice With Green Turquoises. France, 19th C.
Magnificent French gilt silver chalice, made in the late 19th century, with a truly special liturgical presence. The piece combines a warm and luminous gilding with rich decoration of filigree, vegetal reliefs, enamel and green turquoises in cabochon cut distributed across the base, the knop and the cup. It is a solemn, elegant and very striking chalice, designed to stand out for its devotional beauty, for the quality of its antique work and for that noble presence that only pieces created for the altar possess. From the first glance it conveys the feeling of a carefully made work, rich in details and fully linked to the celebration of the Eucharist.
The base, broad and lobed, concentrates much of the decorative strength of the chalice. It presents a beautiful play of polished smooth areas, vegetal reliefs, engraved motifs and small green stones arranged with balance over the gilding. On the front stands out a blue and white enamelled cross, very decorative and of strong visual presence. This cross preserves visible losses in the enamel, the only noteworthy defect of the chalice. Even so, it is an understandable trace in an antique liturgical piece, witness to its age and its use. If desired, the cross could be sent for restoration at an additional cost.
The central knop maintains the same ornamental richness, with gadrooned forms, textured surfaces and set green cabochons. It is an especially voluminous part of the chalice, conceived not only as a decorative element, but also to facilitate a comfortable and firm grip during liturgical use. It is preserved in very good condition, with all the stones complete and a beautiful aesthetic continuity with the base and the cup.
The cup is one of the most beautiful points of the chalice. It presents a gilt interior and a smooth, broad and luminous upper part, decorated with the engraved Latin inscription: "HIC EST ENIM CALIX SANGUINIS MEI", that is, "This is the chalice of my blood". This phrase, directly linked to the moment of consecration, gives the piece a very special Eucharistic depth. Beneath it, the lower cup displays a precious work of gilt silver filigree, with intricate scrolls, bunches of grapes and more green cabochons that bring life and contrast to the whole. The decoration is finished with small pinecone-shaped motifs, creating a rich, elegant and very carefully designed silhouette.
The chalice presents French hallmarks from the late 19th century, both on the base and on the cup, which confirm the origin and quality of this antique piece of religious silverwork. The partial loss of enamel on the frontal cross, repairable, remains as a visible sign of its history, understandable in a liturgical piece with more than a century of life, but it does not detract from the dignity of the whole nor prevent it from preserving a beautiful, complete and fully suitable image for the altar.
It is a chalice that preserves intact the deep meaning for which it was made. Its sacred inscription, luminous gilding, filigree work and small accents of green color form a solemn, warm and deeply liturgical ensemble, especially suitable for a priest, a deacon close to ordination, a private chapel or a religious community. After more than a century of history, this chalice still preserves the presence, dignity and beauty necessary to accompany many Masses and serve on the altar for many years.
Measurements: Height: 24 cm (9.45 in). Diameter of the cup: 9 cm (3.54 in). Diameter of the base: 14.3 cm (5.63 in). Weight: 439 g (15.49 oz).
The base, broad and lobed, concentrates much of the decorative strength of the chalice. It presents a beautiful play of polished smooth areas, vegetal reliefs, engraved motifs and small green stones arranged with balance over the gilding. On the front stands out a blue and white enamelled cross, very decorative and of strong visual presence. This cross preserves visible losses in the enamel, the only noteworthy defect of the chalice. Even so, it is an understandable trace in an antique liturgical piece, witness to its age and its use. If desired, the cross could be sent for restoration at an additional cost.
The central knop maintains the same ornamental richness, with gadrooned forms, textured surfaces and set green cabochons. It is an especially voluminous part of the chalice, conceived not only as a decorative element, but also to facilitate a comfortable and firm grip during liturgical use. It is preserved in very good condition, with all the stones complete and a beautiful aesthetic continuity with the base and the cup.
The cup is one of the most beautiful points of the chalice. It presents a gilt interior and a smooth, broad and luminous upper part, decorated with the engraved Latin inscription: "HIC EST ENIM CALIX SANGUINIS MEI", that is, "This is the chalice of my blood". This phrase, directly linked to the moment of consecration, gives the piece a very special Eucharistic depth. Beneath it, the lower cup displays a precious work of gilt silver filigree, with intricate scrolls, bunches of grapes and more green cabochons that bring life and contrast to the whole. The decoration is finished with small pinecone-shaped motifs, creating a rich, elegant and very carefully designed silhouette.
The chalice presents French hallmarks from the late 19th century, both on the base and on the cup, which confirm the origin and quality of this antique piece of religious silverwork. The partial loss of enamel on the frontal cross, repairable, remains as a visible sign of its history, understandable in a liturgical piece with more than a century of life, but it does not detract from the dignity of the whole nor prevent it from preserving a beautiful, complete and fully suitable image for the altar.
It is a chalice that preserves intact the deep meaning for which it was made. Its sacred inscription, luminous gilding, filigree work and small accents of green color form a solemn, warm and deeply liturgical ensemble, especially suitable for a priest, a deacon close to ordination, a private chapel or a religious community. After more than a century of history, this chalice still preserves the presence, dignity and beauty necessary to accompany many Masses and serve on the altar for many years.
Measurements: Height: 24 cm (9.45 in). Diameter of the cup: 9 cm (3.54 in). Diameter of the base: 14.3 cm (5.63 in). Weight: 439 g (15.49 oz).
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