Italian, Tuscany
Chalice, 15th century
Champlevé enamel on copper or copper alloy with gilding; silver alloy with lead solder, 19.5 x 11.7 x 11.8 cm (7 11/16 x 4 5/8 x 4 5/8 in.)
This chalice is a traditional tulip shape on a heavy pedestal that descends to a flared base. The body is made of a silver alloy and has a gilded lip, inside and out. At its base, the body sits encased in embossed gilded leaves. The supporting pedestal has a large five-sided nodule in its middle decorated in royal blue champlevé with images of religious figures. Above and below the nodule are small decorative rectangles also done in royal blue champlevé. The pedestal flares down to a scalloped, heavy base with a line of dental decoration near the bottom.
Long Gallery
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.