Beautiful Antique Gilt-Silver Chalice and Amethysts. France, 19th Century

Beautiful antique gilt-silver chalice coming from France, where it was made in the 19th century. The chalice is 100% solid silver and is decorated with three natural cabochon-carved amethysts. The stones are embedded at the foots chalice their gorgeous mauve color makes provides the decoration with a subtle elegance. Between them we can see three embossed Christian symbols: a flaming heart (the Sacred Heart), a cross and an anchor, symbol of Jesus Christ as the one who prevents souls spiritual wreckage. The foots nerves are adorned with symmetrical embossed motifs depicting stylized wheat stalks. The cylindrical stem has a main node divided in wedges, together with a smaller secondary node. The subcup shows a delicate openwork design with a base composed of lanceolate leaves and embossed stalks, similar to the ones at the foot. At the cup and the foot, we can see the French silver hallmark and the silversmiths mark. The plain silver paten which comes with the chalice bears its own hallmarks too, as well as a simple hand-engraved decoration composed of a cross framed by a wavy circular band, taking the form of an Anchor, the same symbol as on the base of the chalice and mentioned above. This gorgeous antique gilt-silver chalice with amethysts and paten is a really attractive item. Its quality, ancient age and beauty will not go unnoticed by any lover of sacred art. Dimensions: Chalice: Foots Width: 5.51 in / 14 cm. Cups Width: 3.46 in / 8.8 cm. Height: 9.13 in / 23.2 cm. Weight: 409 g. Paten: Diameter: 5.43 in / 13.8 cm. Weight: 130 g. Total Weight: 539 g.