Magnificent French Neo-Gothic Chalice in Silver and Enamel. XIX CENTURY.

Magnificent French chalice made of solid silver, from late XIX c. It follows neo-Gothic style, as we can see, because of the curved base as well as in the decorative knot with geometric and floral patterns and sinuous ripples in plants that cover the base of the cup. The base is widely decorated with plant carved motifs, which come together ending in pointed arches typical of this style. In three of the six lobes show three different enamelled figures of Jesus, the Virgin Mary crowned with a small fault, and Saint Joseph, framed in a beautiful decoration. At the bottom which reminds to gothic architectural Gothic devices, we can read the letters JESUS and a Greek cross. The cup carries a Latin inscription chiselled along the entire boundary decorated with plant motifs: "Sic Est Enim Goblet Sanguinis Mei." We can notice the the date and location of its fabrications thanks to silver contrasts. It is in perfect condition, except for the simple use.. It still has remnants of gold, lost in some areas that leave the sight of the real material it is made of, which certainly does not detract from beauty. The origins of the religious silver goes back to the times when thanks to Constantine the Great, Christianism became the official religion of the state. From this moment on, these objects would become one of the main incomes of the artisans of silver. These kind of religious pieces are decorated keeping the style of the moment, as well as other decorative arts. When in the late s. XIX the styles arrived, the religious pieces such as this chalices showed the gothic style, that is why new pieces are going to follow it. This is a beautiful piece of decorative styles of all times, which undoubtedly appeal to a very special person. Weight: 700 gr., of which nearly 600 gr. are of pure silver. The rest is a metal counterweight that is located at the base in order to make it standing.Dimensions: 22 cm (total height) 16 cm (base diameter), 10.5 cm (diameter of the cup).