CHALICE. The ecclesiastical cup in which the consecrated wine is administered at the ceremony of sacrament. The early Christians used plain glass chalices at first, then they be came decorated with goldleaf. Wood is said by some to have been the very first material used. With the advance from severe poverty the Church made the vessel in successive stages from horn, then ivory, and, with wealth at dis posal, the precious metals were utilized; bone chalices were used in Germany, which material was forbidden in 787. Chalices were classified by the clergy as ministeriales (used for dis tributing the wine), offertorii (used by the deacons for offering the wine to the faithful), majores and minores (according to their re spective sizes). The first of these usually had handles (cahces ansati), as they were vet?, large and heavy. The ecclesiastical chalice is made up of three parts: the cup or bowl; the stem with its middle swelled into a bulb or other kind of protuberance (termed a knop) to hinder its slipping when held; and the foot. In very early times the paten was considered as an integral part in the term chalice.
The first form of chalice would appear to have been the Grecian cantharus shape, if we notice the altar depictions of the 6th to 9th century. Next appeared a similar form to that of the present day, but much larger. An ex ample of the great size some of these ancient altarpieces attained is shown in the statement that Charlemagne (742-814) presented Saint Peter's at Rome with a pure gold chalice weigh ing 53 pounds. They became smaller after the 12th century, losing their handles and the bowl becoming conical or semi-ovoid. The distri bution of the wine from the large chalices was made through the medium of a small pipe (fistula or calamus) of gold, silver or ivory, and which was furnished with one or several handles. Examples of these are still extant. Chalices may also be divided into the following classes: Pontifical handsome chalices for use on festive occasions; those used at common mass; traveling chalices for visiting distant places— usually small and frequently in parts that could be separated and packed in a small compass; funeral chalices, generally of lead or other com mon metal for burial with bishops. Cripps
(noted authority) divides chalices into their respective periods thus: (1) Norman type (circa 1170-1350), with circular feet. (2) Gothic type (circa 1350-1510), with hexagonal feet ; bowls conical at first, then less so. From 1490-1510, feet with toes. (3) Tudor type (circa 1510 36), with six-lobed and flowing feet; bowls often less conical. From 1525 to 1536, bowls nearly hemispherical; feet with flowing outline.
Octavius Morgan tells us the feet were made out of the round (usually hexagonal) to prevent the chalice from rolling when laid upon its side to drain. Fine enamel and chased work usually appear on the knop, stem and foot, frequently representing emblems of the Passion or other sacred subjects. The bowl is, generally, quite plain and highly polished, so as to be easily kept clean. A cross also appeared on one side, which the officiating priest kept facing him. A fair impression of the prevailing chalice forms in the different periods (includ ing the heavy post-Reformation vessels) can be gained from the accompanying outlines.
Buck, john Henry,
Plate> (The Gorham Co., New York 1903) ; Cripps, 'Wilfred Joseph,
English Plate' (London 1901) ; Hope, W. H. St. John, and Fallow, T. M., (English Chalices and Patens) (in Archceological Journal, 1887) ; Jackson, Charles James,
Illustrated History of Eng lish Plate, Ecclesiastical and Secular) (2 vols., London 1911) ; Jones, E. Alfred, 'Old Silver of the American Churches> (Letchworth, Eng., 1912) ; (Illustrated Catalogue of the Collection of Old Plate of J. P.
(London 1907), and