Liturgical Chalice

Hey guys,
any experts in this field?

I got it for 20€. It was badly tarnished ( it was almost black), so I polished it. No marks, no numbers, nothing at all. Neo-Gothic in style, but I have no idea how old it is.

 

Welcome, @meoww666 -

My comments are based on the assumption that your first and last photos are of the chalice after cleaning, and the second photo is before cleaning/as found. I apologize if this is not the case.

The different colors apparent in the photo of the chalice "as found" indicate that the maker may have chosen to use different metals and/or different patination techniques on separate elements of the chalice (which have tarnished differently with age). This would have been done to highlight and contrast different parts in an artistic way. For example, the floral circle around the base and the first ring around the stem appear to be gilt. The main body of the base may be (tarnished) silver plate. The calix (the crenelated feature around the cup) looks evenly patinated to create a dark contrast with the cup, which was probably silver plate.

I am afraid that your efforts have removed all evidence of this original technique, and reduced the chalice to the uniform color of its base metal.

 

Oh no, no, that's not the case. I forgot to take pictures when I bought it, so the second photo is from the cleaning process, where you can see those different areas that I already partially cleaned. The whole thing had the same black patina, as if it went through fire and smoke. No silver plating, no special highlighted details. It's made of brass, and the inside of the cup is tinned.Maybe it was gilded, but that gold layer is long gone.

 

That said, definitely a church chalice. The designs for these haven't changed all that much from what this Baptist remembers. (we use individual disposables at my church)

 

I like to clean everything too so I like the after .

 

Well, that is a relief.

 

American markets and UK & European markets are totally different. I remember a famous case where the Keno brothers bought a gorgeous piece of furniture in Paris with the original finish. Before the auction house shipped it, they 'helpfully' cleaned it and refinished it so it was shiny like new. They reduced the value by like $100,000 from what the Keno's client would have paid for original condition.

 

I heard that one too. The word is ARGGGH!