Featured Chalice with Lid

I assume this is some type of religious communion object but I'm stumped on age and how to describe. The grapes motif makes me think it's for wine. I don't know what the metal is--thought it was silver-plate when I bought it. It was black with grime when I got it (haven't finished cleaning/polishing as you can see), and polishing shows a rather dull silvery gold finish with gold around the base. Magnet does not stick. The interior of the bowl and lid has a gold wash in amazingly good shape considering how bad the exterior was. I can't find a mark anywhere. It's 8 1/4" tall, base diameter is a hair under 4".

Any help on age, origin, metal composition would be greatly appreciated!

 

Communion chalice? I'm used to seeing similar items made to hold the host, i.e. matzoh chunks if you're a rebel Baptist like me.(LOL)

 

Hi,
Looks like a ciborium to hold "Hosts" but it maybe a chalice for the wine. It is strange since there is no Crucifix on it.
greg

 

If it's Episcopal or another Protestant denomination there might not be. Lutheran maybe?

 

Hi, As Ruth stated it might be Protestant Episcopalian. Being a High Anglican Episcopalian it would have a Crucifix on it. The old saying goes "we are more catholic than Rome".
greg

 

There's a cross, though not technically a crucifix. Google images shows some of the lidded ones, but I don't see one with a crucifix, just a cross.

 

Maybe you would not want to use the Body of Our Lord as a handle?

 

Agree, a ciborium to contain the host. A cross on the lid is normal, it is there as a symbol of Christianity, not as a reminder of the crucifixion.

 

Any thoughts on origin or age?

 

Hi Bronwen,
The Crucifix would be somewhere on the body or the foot, never on the top which was always just a cross.
greg

 

Travelling ciborium. Catholic ones never had crucifixes, just the Cross.