Chalice and paten

Author: Unknown

Date: 1510

Material: Gilt silver and enamel

Dimensions (cm): chalice – H 30,5 x D 23; paten – D 17,5

Inscriptions: chalice – HIC EST CALIX SAN GUINIS MEI NOVITE; paten – DO VOBIS PACEM RELIMCOVO PACEM MEAM

Provenance: Guimarães, Colegiada de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira

Inventory No: MAS O 44 e MAS O 47

The chalice has a multi-lobed base where one can see, in relief and engraved, the Virgin with the Child, Saint Peter and the four evangelists. In the stem, there’s the representation of six apostles and, in the lower bowl (totally embossed and engraved), some angels hold the instruments of the Passion while others hold six silver tintinabula.

The bowl is flat and it bears the inscription “HIC EST CALIX SAN GUINIS MEI NOVITE” (This is the chalice of my blood, of the new…).

This Manueline chalice, considered a national treasure, was offered to the Colegiada de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira by the choirmaster Fernão Álvares and, according to the inventory of 1585, it was the most important chalice of the treasure.

The chalice was accompanied by a paten (MAS O 47). In this paten, with a well, the centre has a salient enamelled medallion, with two sides, one of which having the representation of the Resurrected Christ, with a standard flying from the cross, and the other one the Agnus Dei with an identical cross. The border presents an engraved inscription: “DO VOBIS PACEM RELIMCOVO PACEM MEAM” (Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you).