medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Dear Pat,
It is not so complicated. Do you ever watch Christmas Mass from Saint
Peter's on TV? You see both forms in action.
A "Cup" has now a short stem and a broad cup, and contains the consecrated
oblates, it is the ancient Ciborium, and must have a cover ornated with a
cross (the cover was the only distinction between a cup and a chalice
during some periods). If the cup is without cover has it either lost it or
is a chalice!
A "Chalice" has usually a high stem (with a knop to facilitate handling
during consecration) and a narrower cup, and does hold the consecrated
wine. In the 10th century was it low and broad, and cannot be distinguished
in form from modern "cups" (Ciboria). Chalices are, however, always without
a cover, and at least the inside of the cup must be in gold.
There was an immense variation in the form during the middle ages, but not
so wild since the later middle ages. All popular books on the history of
liturgy have illustrative plates showing various ancient forms.
Hope this helps
Cheers
Erik Drigsdahl
At 23:52 +0200 11/07/03, Pat McIntosh-Spinnler wrote:
>Walking round the Burrell Collection today I found myself admiring a row of
>Communion vessels. All three were footed cups intended for containing wine
>at what I as a Presbyterian would call a service of Holy Communion.
>
>Two of them (silver, hallmarked London, which is surely irrelevant) dated
>"about 1564-5" and "about 1567-8" were similarly proportioned with the foot
>and stem being about a third of the total height. Neither was more than
>eight inches tall. These were both labelled "Communion cup." The third one,
>of gold, was labelled "Chalice, English, early 16th century. The bowl is of
>post-medieval date." The foot and stem of this one were about half the total
>height, and included a large knop below the bowl. It was much the same
>height as the other two.
>
>Why were they labelled differently? What am I missing?
>Pat McIntosh Spinnler
_____________________________________________________________________
Mag.art. Erik Drigsdahl CHD Center for Haandskriftstudier i Danmark
Kapelvej 25B 3.tv Phone: +45 +35 37 20 47
DK-2200 Copenhagen N Email: <[log in to unmask]>
DENMARK http://www.chd.dk
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