CHALICE
Creator(s): Unknown (Silversmith)
On view in: Icon Room
About this object
The cup is gilt and set in a basket of fretwork in silver. This is adorned with four oval medallions in enamel, each with a border of table-cut green paste stones. The scenes on the medallions are 1. Christ standing and blessing, 2. the crucified Christ on the cross (each inscribed), 3. the Mother of God, and 4. St. John the Baptist. The central portion is baluster shaped. The base is gilt with a repoussé design of garlands and swags in silver. The base is also set with four enameled medallions representing 1. Gethsemane, 2. the crown of thorns, 3. the road to Calvary, 4. the Entombment (all inscribed). The enamels are painted in bright colors, pinks, blues, greens, yellows, etc. Around the lip of the cup runs the inscription in Russian: "Eat My Flesh and drink My Blood, for it remains in Me, I am in it. Taste the Body of Christ. Take of the Source of immortality (the immortal source)."
- Object name:
- CHALICE
- Made from:
- Silver -- parcel gilt -- enamel -- paste stones
- Made in:
- Moscow, Russia
- Date made:
- 1787
- Size:
- 30.2 × 12.7 cm (11 7/8 × 5 in.)
Detailed information for this item
- Catalog number:
- 12.85
- Class:
- SILVER
- Signature marks:
- MARK АОП [AOP in Cyrillic in a heart-shaped mark], А.Т [probably for essayer Andrei Titov, 1786-98], St. George and the Dragon / 1787 for Moscow, Ф.Г [F.G in Cyrillic, for an unidentified master, active 1771-99] [on lip of cup]; St. George, A.T [above medallion with the Mother of God]; St. George and the Dragon / 1787 [on stem]; L.V [unidentified mark], St. George and the Dragon / 1787, Ф.Г, АОП [on base] INSCRIPTIONS "Eat My Flesh and drink My Blood, for it remains in Me, I am in it. Taste the Body of Christ. Take of the Source of immortality (the immortal source)" [engraved in Cyrillic around the lip of the cup]; in each instance scenes are identified with initials in Cyrillic [on enameled medallions]
- Credit line:
- Bequest of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 1973