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The two cups
here, both made for use in churches, reveal the differences in traditions
and styles that European Catholics and Protestants brought to the
Americas. The glorious chalice contrasts with the more humble cup.
Protestants at this time were distancing themselves from what they
considered to be the excessive trappings and rituals of the Roman
Catholic Church. The Catholics in Mexico City, believed objects
used in churches should be made of the finest and most precious
materials.
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Chalice
Franz Mayer Collection
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Two-handled Cup
Bayou Bend Collection
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Cast, chiseled,
embossed, gilded, and stamped silver
1770
view large image
(17K, 7sec on 28K)
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Shape
The shape of the chalice suggests high status and symbolizes
the importance of the Catholic church and the priests who served
it.
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Shape
This shape of cup, called a caudle cup, was used in homes to
serve a mixture of warm wine and brandy or tea mixed with bread,
eggs, sugar, and spices.
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Techniques
for Working Silver
The silversmith first cast the chalice by pouring silver into
a mold. He hammered some shapes out from the inside, a technique
called repoussé, then plated the chalice with gold.
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Techniques
for Working Silver
Silversmith Jeremiah Dummer hammered or raised the cup from a
piece of silver. He cast the handles, then applied them to the
body.
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Function
This chalice was made to hold wine during communion. Only the
priest drank wine from the chalice.
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Function
An inscription reveals that a Margaret Thacher first owned the
cup. She probably used it in her home. In 1672 she gave the cup
to the First Church of Dorchester, Massachusetts where it held
communion wine.
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Availability
of Silver
The many silver mines in Mexico meant that artists had relatively
easy access to silver when making church objects.
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Availability of Silver
In England and in the British colonies, smiths melted silver coins
or old silver pieces and refashioned them for domestic and church
use.
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