Antique Liturgical Ciborium. Silver. France S. XIX

Outstanding solid-silver ciborium more than one hundred years ago. This piece comes from France and is dated in the 19th century, remaining in wonderful condition. The ciboriums beauty equals its quality: it bears the Favier hallmark, a famous family of French silversmiths that worked in the 19th century. The ciborium could have been made by Pierre Henri Favier or by his son Louis Marie: they both used the same mark. Close to the Favier hallmark we can see the one for antique French silver, depicting Minerva goddesss profile. All the parts of the ciborium bear their corresponding hallmarks, from the base to the cup. This detail guarantees the quality of the whole piece, made of high-end French solid silver. The ciboriums base is circular in shape. The outside ring is hand-engraved with images of reeds, a classic Christian symbol. Over this ring, the part which supports the stem is fully decorated with flowers, grape bunches in the fig and wheat stalks. These motifs symbolize the bread and the wine used in Eucharist. They are engraved with remarkable attention to detail and delicacy, turning the ciborium into a real sacred-art work. The stem is separated from the base by a secondary node, embellished with decorative fringes. The main node is in the center of the stem; it is decorated with engravings of grapes and wheat stalks, like the base. At the top of the ciborium, the gilded-silver cup is inside a lean silver base beautifully decorated with the same motifs as the rest of the piece. We can see the golden metal through the gaps of the silvery base; the metal shades create a delicate harmony. The lid that covers the cup is equally decorated; at the top it has an elaborate cross with a central flower. Its magnificent decoration and the quality work made by Favier make this antique silver ciborium worthy of inclusion in any churchs treasure. Measurements: Bases Width: 5.51 in / 14 cm. Height: 12 in / 30.5 cm. Cups Width: 4.72 in / 12 cm. Weight: 507 g.