Antique Italian Silver Chalice Adorned with Cherubim, Circa 1810.

Extraordinary antique Italian solid-silver chalice decorated with cherubs, made circa 1810 and in striking condition. The chalice comes with a silver paten, made in France in the early 19th century too. One of the most remarkable features of this item is its wonderful condition: the silver looks shiny and even, and the gold-plated finish of the cup is perfectly regular. Possibly it has been recently restored and polished, so nothing should be done about it for use in the Eucharist. Another interesting feature is its gorgeous decoration, full of embossed motives that cover the whole surface of the chalice (except the cup). The chalice foot is ample and circular in shape. It is embellished with embossed motifs depicting cherubs heads, a pattern that repeats all over the piece. The cherubs are separated by fruit motifs, a very unusual image in Eucharistic pieces. At the center of the stem, the main node bears exactly the same decoration. Over the node we can see a series of turned moldings that lead us to the cups base. This part is decorated with a series of symmetrical leaves, over which we can see the same cherubs faces and fruits. The cup itself is even and bears no decoration at all. It is covered by a fine gold-plated finish, both inside (that must be covered in gold in every chalice) and outside. On the other hand, the paten that comes with the chalice is made of gold-plated silver and is decorated with a hand-engraved acronym of Christ, IHS. It also contains a Latin cross and a Sacred Heart. Both the paten and the chalice bear original hallmarks; at the chalice we can also see the silver proportion, 800. A superb item in extraordinary condition, this antique Italian solid-silver chalice is a real collectors piece that has survived for more than two centuries. Measurements: Chalice: Foots Width: 5.6 in / 14 cm. Cups Width: 3.4 in / 8.5 cm. Height: 9 in / 22.5 cm. Weigth: 445 g. Paten: Diameter: 5.2 in / 13 cm. Weight: 65 g.