A French silver-gilt, hardstone-set and enamel chalice

MAKER'S MARK OF THOMAS-JOSEPH ARMAND-CAILLIAT, LYON, CIRCA 1870

Details

A French silver-gilt, hardstone-set and enamel chalice
Maker's mark of Thomas-Joseph Armand-Cailliat, Lyon, circa 1870
On shaped circular base cast and chased with flowers and scrolls on matted ground, the base and the stem knop inset with amethysts, the foot with enamel ovals of the Crucifixion, Saints and panels emblematic of the Gospels, with Latin inscription, the detachable plain bowl applied with similar decoration and with applied waved border of curved plaques champleve-enamelled with scrolls and foliage and one panel applied 'JESUS' in pastes, marked on foot and cup
10in. (26.5cm.) high
gross 26ozs. (818gr.)

Lot Essay

The maker's mark is that of Thomas-Joseph Armand, together with his wife Jeanne Calliat. They specialized in ecclesiastical silver. They became masters of the goldsmith's guild in Lyon in 1854 and ceased business in 1901. Jeanne Calliat was the daughter of the well-known silversmith Francois Calliat. Her mother was from the Favier family of goldsmiths. Jeanne took over her father's company in 1851 and married Armand in 1854. During the second part of the 19th century the firm was one of the most well known manufacturers of ecclesiastical silver and their work can be seen in the Vatican and many other cathedral treasuries.

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