{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O128709"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O128709/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BB2270/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BB2270/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BB2270","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018KY2263","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018LA0156","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O128709/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O128709","accessionNumber":"631-1868","objectType":"Chalice","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Churches and Cathedrals owned collections of valuable objects which were stored in Treasuries. These objects, used during the liturgy, were made from rich materials such as gold, silver, enamel and gems. Local churchmen and lay people donated precious objects as a sign of their wealth and status and to ensure remembrance after death. The size and high quality craftsmanship of this chalice suggests that it was made for use in a large church or cathedral. The commissioner displays his wealth and status through the valuable materials of gold and silver and through the intricacy of the enamel design.","physicalDescription":"Silver gilt with traces of enamel. The foot decorated with five figures of Christ and the saints in high relief. The knop is decorated with similar figures beneath canopies. The lower part of the foot is decorated with angels on an enameled ground.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silver-gilt","id":"x37998"},{"text":"enamel","id":"AAT14910"}],"techniques":[{"text":"gilded","id":"AAT53789"},{"text":"enamelled","id":"x30139"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver-gilt, enamel","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"},{"text":"Christianity","id":"THES48978"},{"text":"Enamels","id":"THES48876"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006BB2270","2018KY2263","2018LA0156"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"50C (VA)","id":"THES49097"},"free":"","case":"CA1","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Chalice","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Venice (city)","id":"x29237"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1475-1500","earliest":"1475-01-01","latest":"1500-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"27.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"17","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"maximum at base","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"1.2","unit":"kg","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Winged lion?","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Winged lion the mark of Venice. Probably the Hallmark of the Venetian State, \"Bolla di San Marco\" in its 18th century state."},{"content":"'ZC' with a castle","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Hallmark of Zuanne Cottini, documented between 1662 and 1736, and official assayer in the Venetian state mint (the \"Pubblica Zecca\")."},{"content":"Undecipherable mark","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Bought from Mr Whitehead for £800\r\n\r\nThe hallmarks place the chalice in Venice in the early 1700s. This probably means that it was made for one of the convents in the city rather than further afield.\n\nHistorical significance: The design of this object is typical of Gothic style. The starred enamel at the bowl is a continuation of the skill developed by the Flemish enamellers in the 14th century (see for example 1392-1888). The size and high quality craftsmanship of this chalice suggests that it was donated to a large church or cathedral. The commissioner displays his wealth and status through the valuable materials of gold and silver and through the intricacy of the design.\r\n\r\nThe mark on the lip of the chalice, although partially obscured, may indicate Venetian craftsmanship. The mark of the winged lion suggested by H.P. Mitchell would indicate a Venetian origin. A pair of candlesticks of very similar worksmanship were donated by Doge Cristoforo Moro (d.1471) to St Mark's Cathedral, Venice. The chalice also bears similarities to a reliquary, a chalice and a monstrance at Capodistria.","historicalContext":"Medieval Treasuries\r\n\r\nChurches and Cathedrals owned collections of valuable objects called Treasuries. Medieval Treasuries contained two types of object; functional items used during the liturgy such as chalices and symbolic items to be revered and admired, namely reliquaries. These objects were made from rich materials such as gold, silver, enamel and gems. Such materials were considered to be the best way to honour God. The development of a treasury relied upon gifts. People donated precious objects as a sign of their wealth and status and to ensure remembrance after death. Some churchmen also sought to obtain treasures for their Church stores. Abbot Suger for example worked hard to improve the treasury at St Denis.\r\n\r\nTreasuries signified the wealth and power of their Church. Important relics attracted pilgrims, bringing wealth and status to the area. Many church treasures were kept on public display and used in public processions and festivals, which encouraged a sense of community. Other treasuries however were more closely guarded. The Basel Cathedral Treasury was kept locked in cabinets in the sacristy, only to be used on special feast days. This exclusivity only served to increase the objects' status as important and sacred objects.\r\n\r\nA chalice was used during the mass to hold the consecrated wine. Chalices were usually made from gold or silver, although less valuable chalices were made of base metal. The bowl however was always made of precious metal because it would hold the sanctified wine, which Christians believe is transformed into the blood of Christ during the Mass. Precious metals were also used for reasons of hygiene, as base metals could contaminate the wine.","briefDescription":"Silver-gilt with traces of enamel, the foot decorated with Christ and the saints.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Marian Campbell, 'Oreficeria e Smalti Translucidi nei Secoli XIV e XV' <u>Bolletino D'Arte</u> Supp AL N.43 (1988), Inst. Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, Roma, pl.22"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Charles Oman, <u>Pantheon</u>, October 1930, pp.471-5"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Dr. J. H. Middleton, <u>Building News</u>, Jan 5, 1894, p.3, illus. p.24"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"W. Watts, <u>Catalogue of Chalices and Other Communion Vessels</u>, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1922, no.21"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Pollen, John Hungerford, <u>Ancient and modern gold and silver smiths' work in the South Kensington Museum</u>, George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode, London, 1878, p.81"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Jesus Christ","id":"N1515"},{"text":"Saints","id":"N1705"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"CHALICE\r\nSilver, parcel-gilt with enamel, with the marks on the rim: ZC and a castle, and another now indecipherable\r\nItalian (Venice); about 1450-75\r\nThe bowl is decorated with angels which would originally have been seen against a stylised sky - an enamelled background sprinkled with stars - much of the enamel has now disappeared. The knop shows the figures of Christ, the Virgin and Child, St.Peter, an angel, St. Paul, St. John and St. Catherine (?); the foot with figures of the Christ of Pity, St. Peter Martyr, St. Dominic, a bishop, an angel and a Dominican saint. The chalice can be associated with a well-defined group which includes the candlesticks presented by the Doge Cristoforo Moro (1462-71) to St. Mark's, Venice, the reliquary of San Isidoro in the treasury of St. Mark's, a monstrance and a chalice in the treasury of the cathedral of Capalistria, a chalice belonging to the church of S Eufemia alla Giudecca, Venice, and the arm reliquary of St. Virgilius in the treasury of the cathedral of Trent. All are the work of Venetian goldsmithing. It is rare to find hallmarks on medieval plate.","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["631-1868"],"accessionNumberNum":"631","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1868,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2017KD6223","2017KD6224","2019LP8200","2019LV0301","2019LW9259","2019LW7738"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-11-14","recordCreationDate":"2006-10-19","availableToBook":false}}