Description
This exceptional vintage sterling silver ciborium*/ecclesiastical chalice has a circular rounded form onto a circular knop and tapering pedestal to a circular spreading foot.
The surface of this vintage ciborium has a planished finish and is embellished with the engraved inscription 'SANCTE MICHAEL DEFENDE NOS IN PRŒLIO' - Saint Michael defend us in battle** in addition to an equilateral cross design, all in the Arts and Crafts typeface.
This exceptional ciborium retains the original sterling silver domed, push fit cover encircled with a broad engraved geometric zig zag decorated border to the rim.
The cover is surmounted with an impressive cast sterling silver ring loop style finial accented with simple supports and a bead motif to the nadir.
The protruding swept circular rounded knop to the pedestal is embellished with impressive applied circular motifs; the knop below features a simplistic engraved circular motif decorated border.
The exceptional foot of the chalice is encircled with engraved scalloped borders accented with an band of evolute spiral ornamentation to the inner circumference; this additional band is identifiable as a symbol for sea waves.
The foot of this artisan hand crafted piece is further ornamented with an applied copper nautical anchor design to the anterior surface.
The underside of the weighted base features the contemporary engraved Latin inscription:
'DIVINUM FIDELIBUS PRECOR CORPUS DUM DERIBES SIS MEMOR ANIMAE MICHAELIS EDGAR IVUENIS OPTIMI QUI OCEANO INDICO PRO PATRIA DIMICANS DIEM OBIIT EHEU SUPREMAM NAVI LONGA BRITANNICA NOMINE CORNWALL NAUTISQUE IPSIS HOSTILI NIPPONENSIUM FULMINE OBRUTIS MCMXLII BREUEM FILII VITAM IN PUERORUM MORIBUS FINGENDIS CLARE EXACTAM CLARIUSQUE LIMITATAM LUGENS MATER ME RECONCILIATIONIS FUTURAE PIGNUS ECCLESIAE DEIPARAE APUD LATCHFORD D D MCMXLIII'***
The interior of this expectional nautical themed ciborium retains the original gilding.
This silver ciborium has been independently tested using state of the art technology (Niton XL2 Analyzer) and verified as sterling silver.
* A ciborium is a shrine style cup with a cover used to hold the Eucharist (otherwise known as Holy Communion, the Lord's Supper, Mass, Blessed Sacrament and Breaking of Bread).
** These are the opening words of the Alleluia verse for Saint Michael's feast in the Roman Missal, a liturgical book of the Roman Rite in the Catholic Church. The full verse reads 'Sancte Michael, defende nos in proelio ut non pereamus in tremendo iudicio.' - Saint Michael, defend us in battle that we might not perish at the dreadful judgment.
*** This inscription contains details of praying for the soul of Michael Edgar who was in the Indian Ocean fighting for this country, where he died with Cornwall sailors fighting the Japanese, buried in 1942.
View our blog about the full meaning of a ciborium
