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Chalice and paten in finely chiseled silver with foliage decoration, floral frieze, bunches of grapes and vine leaves, set with small garnets and green colored stones, foot engraved with the Latin quote "Hic is calix novum testamentum in sanguine meo which pro vobis fundetur ", punches Minerva (1st title) and silversmith Armand-Calliat *, in its original case, XIXth century.
This chalice is in very good condition and is of exceptional quality. Punches on the bowl, foot and paten (Minerva and goldsmith ACS). The case is signed "Armand Calliat Orfèvre in Lyon".
A note: missing a green cabochon on the bowl and on the knot, slight wear of the vermeil in places (especially on the shaft under the knot), micro-scratches and slight wear of time, wear of time also on the box, see photos (see red arrows).
fascinated by the masterpieces of Byzantine art and by the neo-Gothic movement set up by Viollet-le-Duc goes to Lyon where he meets the one who will become his wife, Jeanne CAILLAT whose father has a factory of silversmithing. Attracted by everything related to the Middle Ages, he studied drawing, painting and interested in colors and enamel. Having inherited his father-in-law's goldsmith's factory, he turned to religious goldsmithing and enriched it with many pieces of sacred art. He is allied with Pierre BOSSAN, the architect of the basilicas of Fourvière and Ars. The workshop of the rise of Gourguillon in Lyon becomes world famous and takes the name of ARMAND-CAILLAT, his two sons working with him after having studied at Beaux arts in Lyon and Paris. Among many other objects and sacred vessels, he is credited with the crown of the Virgin of Fourvière, the shrine of the priest of Ars and, nearer, the shrine of Bishop St Anthelme in the cathedral of Belley. He died in 1901, Officer of the Legion of Honor, Commander of St Gregory the Great, Knight of the Order of St Charles, after having been President of the Academy of Sciences, Fine Arts and Arts of Lyon, President of the Council of the National School of Fine Arts of Lyon and Officer of Public Instruction.
(By J.DASSONVILLE, Memoirs of the Pays du Guiers site)
