Miskelk op zeslobbige voet met engelenhoofden 1719

This silver and gold chalice, decorated with cherubic heads, was created by Christiaan Warenberg, a silversmith working in the Netherlands during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. At this time, Dutch society was undergoing significant transformations, moving from the Golden Age into a period marked by economic challenges and shifting cultural values. The intricate details and use of precious metals reflect the continued importance of religious institutions and the wealthy merchant class as patrons of the arts. The chalice form and the decoration with angels suggests its use in religious ceremonies, likely within a Christian context, reflecting the dominant faith of the region. To fully understand the chalice, we might explore guild records of silversmiths, church inventories, and family portraits of wealthy merchants, resources that can shed light on the social and institutional contexts that shaped its creation and use.