Chalice

An arch in the form of a regular quarter sphere rises from the wide, horizontal foot of this chalice’s base. A series of repoussé, gilded cherub heads that are slightly rustic and have strong contours run along the central, rounded band of silver with an embossed pattern. There is an engraved inscription around the neck of the tapering upper section of the base. This gives the name of the owner or the donor, Péter Rhéti, as well as presumably the year it was donated or obtained, “An[n]o. 1676. Die 1 May: R[everen]dus D[omi]n[u]s P: Petr[u]s Rheti.” The uppermost section of the base is decorated with a ring of leaves made from repoussé and chasing. There is a large node with twisting ribs and a gilded embossed pattern imitating a cable on the simple cylindrical stem. The lower section of this conical cup with a lip that flares slightly outwards is filled with a floral pattern of repoussé and chased silver on a gilded base. The Brassó (Braşov, Romania) hallmark with a crown on the outer edge of the foot is identical to the master’s mark of Hans Nadascher, who became a master craftsperson in 1654 (“HN” on a shield crest with a complex contour and a crown; see: Kőszeghy 224), although the second letter of the mark is difficult to make out.

by Anna Ecsedy