Description

An extremely rare early English chalice dating to the reign of Elizabeth I. It is quite remarkable to find a piece of silver of such an early date and especially in such excellent condition. This cup follows the standard design for Elizabethan communion cups and is most likely to have been made from pre-reformation silver. It would originally have had a cover (paten). The engraved arabesques to the body are typical for the period. The foot wire has stamped ornament of tongue and dart.

Weight 257 grams, 8.2 troy ounces.
Height 18 cms. Diameter – top 9 cms, foot 8.5 cms.
London 1570.
Maker William Dyxson.
Sterling silver.

Marks. Stamped below the rim with a full set of extremely good silver hallmarks. The “fleur de lys” maker’s mark for William Dyxson was entered in 1561 (see photo of Jacksons page 98). It’s very rare for marks of this period to have a name associated with it. Normally all that remains on the record is the initials.

Literature: Most parish churches in existence at this date would have had a chalice very similar to this. During the Reformation there was a return to a simpler, more direct form of worship. Protestants rejected the Roman Catholic belief in ‘transubstantiation’, the transformation of bread and wine during the Mass into the body and blood of Christ, and proposed instead a symbolic service of shared communion. In this, the congregation would regularly take wine as well as bread, whereas before they had been chiefly spectators.

The church authorities launched a programme from about 1560 to replace the ‘old massing chalices’ with ‘decent’ communion cups of prescribed design, such as this. The programme for refashioning old chalices was staggered from diocese to diocese over a period of about 15 years. The large and remote Welsh diocese of St David’s was one of the last to adopt the new form of communion cup.

Please note that this item is not new and will show moderate signs of wear commensurate with age. Reflections in the photograph may detract from the true representation of this item.

Maker: William Dyxson

The "fleur de lys" makers mark for William Dyxson was entered in 1561 (Jacksons "Gold & Silver Marks" page 98).

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