Eucharistic Chalice 1627

This Eucharistic Chalice was made in the 17th century by André Schiller, primarily from silver and gold. Consider the material qualities of these precious metals. Their costliness would have immediately signaled the importance of the object. The chalice’s form also speaks to skilled artistry. The bowl’s smooth interior and the intricate ornamentation required goldsmithing expertise. Note the detailed chasing and repoussé work; the delicate relief patterns of foliage and possibly heraldic symbols suggest countless hours of labor. The making of this chalice would have been deeply embedded in the socio-economic structures of its time. Craftspeople like Schiller operated within guilds, with specialized workshops. The division of labor and the precious materials involved point to a complex network of extraction, production, and consumption. Thinking about this chalice, it is important to recognize that the perceived value and meaning are inseparable from the social and economic processes through which it came into being.