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拍品專文
Although unmarked, the present chalice relates stylistically to a number of known late 14th-15th century chalices made in western Ireland. With its striking incurved hexagonal base, Gothic knopped stem and rounded tapering bowl, the Zilkha chalice should be compared to three similar chalices at the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin (NMI). The most grand of the museum’s early chalices is the De-Burgo-O’Malley chalice, which was gifted to the Dominican community of Burrishoole in 1494. Engraved on the foot with a dedication inscription naming its benefactors, Thomas de Burgo, grandson of the priory’s founder, and his wife Grainne O’Malley, the aunt and namesake of notorious "Pirate Queen" Grace O’Malley (1530-1603), the De Burgo- O’Malley chalice is among the earliest extant works of late medieval altar plate. With its generous proportions and jewel-mounted knop, the De Burgo-O’Malley would have been a considerably more expensive commission than the smaller Zilkha chalice with engraved knop. Despite the elevations of the De Burgo-O’Malley chalice, both chalices display similar construction of folded-over and soldered tabs to the undersides securing the stem to the top of the spreading foot.
An unmarked Irish chalice and paten dating to circa 1550 in the NMI’s collection is also remarkably similar to the Zilkha chalice. Although the incurved sides of the base are far less pronounced than the Zilkha chalice, this chalice features a similar knop without jewels and an engraved crucifix to the base where the Zilkha chalice is applied with a cast crucifix.
The museum’s chalice known as the TP-IEP chalice dates to 1589 and features an incurved hexagonal foot more similar to that of the Zilkha chalice. While the knop of the TP-IEP chalice is enhanced with later glass jewels, the foot of the chalice includes an applied crucifix similar to the Zilkah chalice. Dr. Thomas Sinsteden suggests an analogy between these applied three-dimensional crucifixes and those found on silver “Galway Rosaries,” which typically bear strong Spanish influences. A circa 1480 gilt chalice with plain spreading circular foot displays the remnants of rivets probably for an attached crucifix now lacking. Known as the O’Learghusa chalice, this chalice was sold at Duke’s, Dorchester, 1 July 2021, lot 400, and acquired by the NMI.
We would like to thank Dr. Thomas Sinsteden for his assistance in the cataloguing and research of this lot.
An unmarked Irish chalice and paten dating to circa 1550 in the NMI’s collection is also remarkably similar to the Zilkha chalice. Although the incurved sides of the base are far less pronounced than the Zilkha chalice, this chalice features a similar knop without jewels and an engraved crucifix to the base where the Zilkha chalice is applied with a cast crucifix.
The museum’s chalice known as the TP-IEP chalice dates to 1589 and features an incurved hexagonal foot more similar to that of the Zilkha chalice. While the knop of the TP-IEP chalice is enhanced with later glass jewels, the foot of the chalice includes an applied crucifix similar to the Zilkah chalice. Dr. Thomas Sinsteden suggests an analogy between these applied three-dimensional crucifixes and those found on silver “Galway Rosaries,” which typically bear strong Spanish influences. A circa 1480 gilt chalice with plain spreading circular foot displays the remnants of rivets probably for an attached crucifix now lacking. Known as the O’Learghusa chalice, this chalice was sold at Duke’s, Dorchester, 1 July 2021, lot 400, and acquired by the NMI.
We would like to thank Dr. Thomas Sinsteden for his assistance in the cataloguing and research of this lot.