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Lot Essay
From around 1550 it was a punishable offence in England to attend any church service other then those of the Church of England. Despite this, recusant chapels (from the Latin recusare: to refuse) were maintained at many Catholic manor houses, employing objects such as this chalice. As these objects were not produced to be sold they were rarely sent to Goldsmiths' Hall to be hallmarked, instead being either left unmarked, or, as with this example, marked with maker's mark only.
A chalice by W. Rainbow, hallmarked for 1633, with a similar foot and engraving is illustrated in J. J. Buckley, Some Irish Altar Plate, page 58-59, number 1633H, plate XX, fig. 2. Unmarked examples of circa 1640 and circa 1650 respectively and each with a cupid decorated knop are illustrated in Michael Clayton, The Collectors Dictionary of the Silver and Gold of Great Britain and North America, page 58, fig. 115 and Vanessa Brett, The Sotheby's Directory of Silver, 1600-1940, page 125, number 416.
Several unmarked examples have appeared at auction, often with a similar tear drop shaped knop decorated with cupid masks, some unscrewing into three pieces. These include an example, also engraved with a crucifix, sold Christie's London, 17 November 1965, lot 152 and another which unscrews into three sections sold Christie's London, 5 March 1958, lot 170.
A chalice by W. Rainbow, hallmarked for 1633, with a similar foot and engraving is illustrated in J. J. Buckley, Some Irish Altar Plate, page 58-59, number 1633H, plate XX, fig. 2. Unmarked examples of circa 1640 and circa 1650 respectively and each with a cupid decorated knop are illustrated in Michael Clayton, The Collectors Dictionary of the Silver and Gold of Great Britain and North America, page 58, fig. 115 and Vanessa Brett, The Sotheby's Directory of Silver, 1600-1940, page 125, number 416.
Several unmarked examples have appeared at auction, often with a similar tear drop shaped knop decorated with cupid masks, some unscrewing into three pieces. These include an example, also engraved with a crucifix, sold Christie's London, 17 November 1965, lot 152 and another which unscrews into three sections sold Christie's London, 5 March 1958, lot 170.