Artwork Page for Communion Cup

Details / Information for Communion Cup

Communion Cup

1671–72

England, London

Medium
silver gilt
Measurements
Overall: 25.3 x 12.9 cm (9 15/16 x 5 1/16 in.)
Credit Line
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1980.79
Public Domain
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Location
203A British Painting and Decorative Arts
Print
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Did You Know?

The words engraved along the exterior of this cup, "My Bloud is Drinke indeed,” refer to Christ’s instructions during the Last Supper, as described in the New Testament of the Christian Bible.

Description

This cup was produced shortly after the death of Oliver Cromwell (1599–1658), a leader of the English Civil War and Lord Protector of the British Isles from 1653 to 1658. An intensely religious man, Cromwell believed that the Reformation (1517–1648) failed to sufficiently eliminate Catholic beliefs and practices in Great Britain. The simplified shape and design of this vessel reflects his desire to visually differentiate Protestant communion cups from the chalices used by the Roman Catholic Church.
A silver gilt chalice features a tall, conical bowl with a flared rim and a smooth, polished surface. Across the upper portion, the script "My Bloud is Drinke" is engraved. The bowl tapers into a stem accented by rounded ridges before expanding into a wide, tiered circular base. Pale gold tones cover the vessel, while dark oxidation marks the rim and lower base.

Communion Cup

1671–72

England, London

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