CIBORIUM, in classical Latin a drinking-vessel (Gr. Kt33d piov, the cup-shaped seed-vessel of the Egyptian water-lily, and hence a cup). In the early Christian Church the ciborium was a canopy over the altar (q.v.), supported on columns, and from it hung the dove-shaped receptacle in which was reserved the consecrated Host. The name was early transferred to the receptacle, and in the Western Church the canopy was known as a baldachin (Ital. baldacchino, from Baldacco, Bagdad, whence came the rich brocade used for canopies, etc.). At the present day in the Roman Church the term "pyx" (7ru cs, a boxwood vessel) is used for the receptacle in which the viaticum is carried to the sick or dying. Mediaeval pyxes and ciboria are often beautiful ex amples of the goldsmith's, enameller's and metal-worker's craft. They take most usually the shape of a covered chalice or of a cylindrical box with cover surmounted by a cross. An exquisite ciborium, probably of English 13th century make, fetched f6,000 at Christie's in 1908 : copper-gilt, ornamented with champleve enamels, with Biblical subjects in medallions on the outside (col oured illustration in catalogue of Burlington Fine Arts Club Exhibition, 1897).