Antique Gilded Silver Liturgical Ciborium. Madrid, Spain, c. 1940

Antique Gilded Silver Liturgical Ciborium. Madrid, Spain, circa 1940

Magnificent liturgical ciborium of Spanish origin, crafted in solid gilded silver. A piece of exceptional ornamental quality and perfect preservation, made in Madrid around 1940 by the renowned workshop “Sucesores de Dionisio García Gómez.” (Successors of Dionisio García Gómez). This outstanding work of sacred art combines elegance, craftsmanship, and symbolism.

The ciborium features a balanced and stately silhouette, with a stepped trilobed base and a generous body widening toward the cup. Its decoration is particularly rich: the lid, stem, and base are lavishly adorned with finely repoussé acanthus leaves set against a hammered texture background that enhances the depth and contrast of the vegetal relief. The design achieves a harmonious balance between architectural sobriety and ornamental dynamism, evoking solemnity while preserving the delicacy of artisanal workmanship.

Crowned with a cross on the lid, the ciborium also has a fully gilded interior, preserved impeccably with no loss of gilding. The purity and uniformity of the gilding suggest minimal use or exceptional conservation. Clearly visible on the base, body, and lid are official Spanish hallmarks, including the emblematic hexagonal urn, the personal mark of Dionisio García Gómez, and the five-pointed star indicating .915 sterling silver, in use in Spain since 1934.

This maker's hallmark adds significant value. After the early death of the master silversmith in 1925, his legacy was continued by his widow and sons under the name “Sucesores de Dionisio García Gómez.” The firm's production, active until the 1980s, is highly regarded today by collectors and institutions. Similar pieces have achieved notable results at international auctions, confirming their significance within modern religious silverwork.

A unique piece that unites quality, history, and beauty. Perfect for reintroduction into the Church or parish use. Also an excellent addition to any sacred silver collection, especially for those seeking artist-signed pieces of symbolic and historical value.

Make this testimony of Spanish sacred art your own and continue its spiritual and cultural legacy.

Dimensions: 27 × 12.5 × 15.3 cm (10.63 × 4.92 × 6.02 in). Weight: 724 g.

History of Dionisio García Gómez

Dionisio García Gómez was born in Madrid in 1888, during the height of modern Spanish silversmithing. He trained as an apprentice in the renowned workshop of D. H. Adradas, a key figure in Madrid’s late 19th-century silverwork scene. After completing his training, he founded his own company, “Platería D. García,” a workshop noted for exquisite repoussé silverwork blending modernist and Art Deco styles.

Thanks to his technical mastery and the success of his creations, he was reportedly appointed silversmith to the Royal Household under King Alfonso XIII, although no official decree has been preserved. Still, this fact is repeated in catalogs and commercial documents, lending it credibility. His personal mark, a small urn inside a hexagon, became a recognized symbol of quality and authorship.

His premature death in 1925 at the age of just 37 cut short a promising career, but his legacy was carried on by his wife, Carmen Marqués, and their sons Dionisio and Luis Rafael, who ran the workshop under the name “Sucesores de Dionisio García Gómez.” (Successors of Dionisio García Gómez). The firm remained commercially and artistically active for decades, with headquarters in Madrid and branches in Barcelona, as recorded in the “Golden Book of the D. García Silver Factory.”

Today, his works are part of public and private collections, museums, and respected antique dealers. In recent years, ciboria, chalices, and monstrances bearing his mark have gained recognition at specialized auctions, placing his legacy among the most important in 20th-century Spanish liturgical silverwork. His craftsmanship, certified by his hallmark, continues to shine through its originality, refined technique, and deep symbolic meaning.