Chalice
c. 1500–c. 1520
Medium
Silver gilt and enamel
Dimensions
H.: 24.5 cm (9 11/16 in.)
Classification
chalices (liturginal vessels)
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
230956
Art Historical Context
This exquisite chalice, crafted around 1500–1520, exemplifies the pinnacle of European applied arts during the late Gothic to early Renaissance transition. Standing at 24.5 cm tall, it served as a liturgical vessel in Christian worship, holding wine for the Eucharist during Mass. Its anonymous maker reflects the collaborative workshops of the era, where skilled metalworkers produced sacred objects for churches and cathedrals across Europe, blending functionality with profound spiritual symbolism. The chalice's medium—silver gilt and enamelhighlights masterful techniques that elevated metalwor...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...