Rare Elizabethan Silver Chalice, 1570

This is a fabulous Elizabeth I period silver chalice. It looks beautiful, is in superb condition with clear hallmarks and is very early in date.

The chalice is in the typical form for the post Reformation period. It is entirely original and has a band of arabeque engraving around the cup. The base has a most attractive tongue and dart decoration around the foot rim. It is in fine condition with neither damage nor repair.

The majority of ecclesiastical silver in England was destroyed in the 1530's as part of the dissolution of the monastries, under order of King Henry VIII following his charge of praemunire to the whole English clergy. He needed to secure their agreement to the annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon and subsequently this lead to the breakaway from the Catholic Church. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, the Protestant church became firmly established and from 1560 each parish church was furnished with a new simple communion cup for the partaking of wine by the whole congregation.

It is quite remarkable that this chalice has survived in such fine condition and that the hallmarks are in equally crisp condition. The marks are all crisp and the makers mark is particularly interesting, This mark is shown in Jackson's (Pickford edition) as the 5th entry on page 98 where it is assigned to "William Dyxson" (Dixon). It is very rare for makers marks from this period to have been properly attributed.

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